Chemistry And Forensics - Help w/Options please!

sschoe2
Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:40:12 +0000

I assume you are in Chicago by your screen name. I am in Chicago as well.

If your daughter wants to be a CSI I sure hope she doesn’t think it is anything like it is portrayed on crime shows. Forensics is usually more of a routine technician job running the same GC test for cocaine over and over again or running an assembly line of DNA tests. The analysis has to be performed exactly as the established and accepted protocol states. The main thing also is the paperwork has to be spotless and completely in order or the Lawyers will go after that. They don’t argue the science as I mentioned it is extremely well established and vetted they nit pick crap like protocols and forms/dates. From what my contacts in forensics tell me it is a really mind numbing job with all the boring paperwork and routine analysis.

That being said most, forensics departments hire people with a BS in Chemistry or Biochemistry (molecular biology DNA) and train them for a year on how things need to be done. They really don’t prefer forensics degrees at all. They have to train you from the ground up in order for your results to be certified and accepted. After working in the field a while, an MS or Ph. D. in forensics might be helpful if you want to move up to director of a lab or something, but I doubt even then that it is really necessary. Specializing at the undergrad level is not beneficial and actually hurts your career prospects. With a chem degree you could at least get jobs elsewhere and just as easily get a job in forensics but not with a forensics degree.

Getting a forensics job is fiercely competitive as I indicated above. About 7 years ago when I graduated I applied for the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for both Chemistry and DNA. I had to go downtown to the Thompson Center twice to take a computerized exam for each. I scored an A rating on both and was put on a list. The list then expired after a year and nothing resulted from it not even an interview. I decided not to bother retaking it again as it seemed to be a waste of time. Then President Bush actually gave a large grant to reduce the DNA backlog but the Illinois Govt missappropriated the funds and there was a scandal where a rapist went free because the evidence was not processed in time for the trial. There are not many employers that hire forensic chemists only state and some larger local governments.