. . . Applies scientific disciplines to physical evidence
"People have often said, `Oh, you're like Sam on the TV show Quincy,'" says Mark Farley, formerly a forensic chemist with New York's Suffolk County division of medical-legal services. "But forensic chemists hardly ever do investigative work like Quincy does. They handle evidence picked up from the scene of the crime."

Susan Ragudo, forensic chemist with the Commonwealth of Virginia, Division of Forensic Science, echoes. "Certainly in my job as a forensic chemist, I am not trained at all to go out and deal with the criminals. I come to work, I do my work in the laboratory, and then I leave and go home. I don't do any of the investigating work like Quincy does."

A forensic chemist is, in general, somebody who analyzes evidence that's brought in from crime scenes and determines a conclusion based on tests run on that piece of evidence. A forensic chemist's job is to identify the evidence as part of the larger process of solving a crime. Ragudo specializes in drug chemistry but evidence brought into other labs can include paint chips, human hair, glass fragments, blood stains, or soil, to name a few. When evidence is brought in from a crime scene, Ragudo runs a series of tests-preliminary screening tests such as color tests; a series of chromatography tests to see if more than one drug is present; and GC/MS to identify a controlled substance. "It's kinds of neat when you have something that's an unknown and you're determining what it is," says Ragudo.

"Forensic chemists are experts in the reconstruction of events in the most basic form," says Mary Gibbons, director of the Oakland Police Department Crime Lab in Oakland, CA. "We
apply scientific disciplines to problems that present themselves in the form of physical evidence." Understanding the evidence requires tools from many disciplines, including chemistry, biology, materials science, and genetics. In fact, the prevalence of DNA analysis is making knowledge of genetics increasingly important in this field.

. . . putting together pieces of the puzzle
"In forensic science, you can't control your sample material; you have to play the card someone else deals you," says Kurt Dubowski, George Lynn Cross distinguished professor of medicine and director of the forensic science lab at the University of Oklahoma. Farley describes this aspect of the job as `putting together the pieces of a puzzle.' Ragudo adds, "You're trying to help put pieces together to see if a crime was committed and who did it."

. . . Explaining and defending your work
Forensic chemists agree that public speaking skills and being comfortable with what you do are important personal characteristics for this career. "You have to be articulate and comfortable explaining complicated things in simple ways," says Gibbons. Ragudo comments, "Sometimes we're needed to explain to the jury what we do, what we found, and how we came to our conclusion. All we're doing when we go to court is testifying to what we found. We don't work for either the prosecution or the defense so we have nothing to hide from either side. But it can be a little disturbing to get up in front of a judge or jury and explain what you do. You have to be comfortable enough with what you do to explain it to someone, and you can't get annoyed very easily if defense attorneys try to get to get under your skin. Sometimes defense attorneys try to discredit us by saying that our tests are invalid just to make their client look okay in the jury's eyes."

Farley points to one case in which he analyzed a sample found in the pocket of a man charged with selling LSD. The suspect claimed the sample was mescaline, says Farley, explaining that a conviction for selling mescaline carries a lighter sentence. "I analyzed the material and confirmed it was LSD. Later, in court, I had to explain my analysis to the jury and describe the difference between the two drugs." In another case, Farley was asked to verify evidence found on a suspect as quaalude tablets. His analysis revealed the sample was aspirin. "What the suspect was carrying in this case was not illegal. The police weren't too happy about that," he says, "but I had to stand by my analysis. You also have to remain impartial," warns Farley. "It's your job to analyze the evidence, not to judge."

Not all cases go to trial, but when one does, giving expert testimony in court is a significant piece of a forensic chemist's job. Some employers require their forensic chemists to go through several months of mock courtroom testimony training during their regular training. "If you enjoy teaching, you may be well suited for the court aspects of this work," says Gibbons. "You need to teach the jury about your analysis and your findings, explain the basis of your opinion, and help them make a decision."

Forensic science is an environment in which everything is visible, from the collection of materials to the final report. Farley explains, "You have to document your work in exquisite detail. Often, you must present and explain your work in court, and be ready to defend your results, and face scrutiny of your personal qualifications and technical competence."

. . . Offers various opportunities
The career path for most forensic chemists is through federal, state and county labs associated with the medical examiner's office. However, there are different types of careers available with forensic chemistry, including those in other fields of forensic science. Chemists can also move up within a particular section. For example, as director of the Oakland Crime Lab, Gibbons supervises other forensic scientists rather than being involved in day-to-day analysis. She is also responsible for case review and general lab management. Dubowski's career-long focus on behavioral toxicology has taken his work into research, the development of analytic procedures, and teaching. Farley transferred his technical training to the field of patent law.

All three say the aspect of forensic chemistry they enjoy most is the challenge of new projects and applying their scientific knowledge to a unique set of problems every day.
Copyright 1997 American Chemical Society

WORK DESCRIPTION
Forensic scientists apply knowledge from diverse disciplines such as chemistry, biology, materials science, and genetics to the analysis of evidence found at crime scenes or on/in the body of a crime suspect. The field is a combination of criminalistics and analytical toxicology. Criminalistics is the qualitative examination of evidence using methods such as microscopy and spot testing, while analytical toxicology looks for evidence in body fluids through a range of instrumental techniques from optical methods (UV, infrared, x-ray) to separations analyses such as gas chromatography, HPLC, and thin layer chromatography. Most often, forensic chemists do not know the nature of the sample before they analyze it. The results of their work are used in police investigations and court trials where they may be called upon to provide expert testimony and explain their findings to a jury.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Forensic scientists generally work in government labs which can be small, understaffed, and underfunded. They spend time preparing and giving testimony in court. Formerly under the jurisdiction of the police department, forensics has traditionally been totally male dominated. However, over the last 15 years, the field has opened up to women who are moving up in its ranks.

PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT
Most labs are associated with a federal, state, or local police department, medical examiner's office, forensic services lab, or branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There are some private labs which carry out forensic analysis, but they rare.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Versatility and patience are the most often cited qualities of a forensic scientist. Forensic chemists must be able to spend hours rigorously applying analytical techniques to evidence, and then defending their work in a court of law. They must be able to clearly and concisely answer challenges to their findings. Integrity is also an important characteristic because it is not unusual for the different interests in a case to try and sway the forensic chemist's position.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING
A strong background in chemistry, instrumental analysis, and a good grounding in criminalistics are vital. A forensic science degree at both the undergraduate and graduate level is recommended. If interested in working with trace evidence such as glass, hair, and paper, focus on instrumentation skills and take courses in geology, soil chemistry, and materials science. If forensic biology and DNA analysis are preferred, take microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry courses. Those interested in the toxicological aspects of this work should study physiology, biochemistry, and chemistry.

JOB OUTLOOK
The forensic science field is guardedly optimistic about job prospects for the future. Greater interest in the use of DNA analysis is expected to create more jobs. Those interested in DNA work should keep up with the rapidly changing technology and develop skills that distinguish them from the pack.

SALARY RANGE
For chemists, incomes start in the low $30,000-per-year range. The median salary is $40,000. Chemists at the high end are paid around $60,000-per-year. Scientists involved with fingerprint analysis are on the lower end of the pay scale.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact schools with academic programs in forensic science. University of New Haven, George Washington University and City University of New York all have graduate programs. Michigan State University has programs on the graduate and undergraduate level.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Contact local forensics labs and find out when a forensic scientist will be testifying in court. Going to see them testify will give you a sense of whether this aspect of the work is right for you. Hands-on technical experience is more difficult to get. Most labs do not have internships, but may take on volunteers. Academic requirements are tightening. Give thought to graduate work and research projects that show you are capable of problem solving. To prepare for court presentations, scientists recommend participation in the debate team and school theater.

American Chemical Society, Education Division, 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 452-2113. Production of career material was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.