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Becoming a Forensic Chemist Forensic chemistry simply refers to the idea of applying the study of chemistry and its sub-disciplines—such as toxicology—to the criminal justice system, from investigating crimes and analyzing evidence to narrowing down suspects and defending an interpretation of evidence in court. A majority of this practice happens in the laboratory, where chemists use their specialized scientific knowledge and abilities to help with a very specific part of the judicial process. To enter the field and work in crime labs, prospective practitioners must obtain at least an undergraduate degree in chemistry, forensic science, natural science, or a similar subject. Their course work should include a fair amount of chemistry, biology, and mathematics. However, to obtain a more advanced position, such as a lab manager or director position, prospective forensic chemists are often required to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree. A PhD is necessary for someone to get a position doing forensic research at an academic institution. Students should also consider what specialty of forensic chemistry they are most interested in pursuing. According to the American Chemical Society (ACS), students who would like to work with trace evidence—including fibers, glass, and gunshot residue—should take courses in materials science, geology, and soil chemistry and develop instrumentation skills. Microbiology, biochemistry, and genetics courses are useful for those interested in pursuing forensic biology. For toxicology, or the practice of obtaining and interpreting toxicology reports, it is recommended that students study chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology. Beyond education, prospective forensic chemists also must complete extensive practical and on-the-job training. The length of training may vary, depending on which particular field or practice a forensic scientist wants to focus on. For instance, learning how to conduct DNA analysis takes about six months to a year of on-the-job training, while firearms analysis can require up to three years. Professionals must demonstrate a level of proficiency in a field before they are permitted to work on their own. To improve their job prospects, graduates who are looking to pursue a career in forensic chemistry should obtain certification from a variety of professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC), the American

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Introduction: Bringing Chemistry to the Crime Scene