A Career As A Forensic Chemist

Biochemistry is the study of the organization and chemical reactions of material in live organisms. Biochemistry became a separate division when scientists mixed biology and different aspects of physical chemistry and started to study the processes of living things, such as energy transfers, hereditary organization, and much more. Biochemistry includes the sciences of neurochemistry, biophysical chemistry, and a very interesting subdivision: forensic chemistry. Have you ever watched late night crime shows, such as CSI, NCIS, or even a mystery show, such as Sherlock? Forensic chemistry plays a vital role in these popular shows, and in real life. Forensic chemists deal with analyzing crime scenes or evidence found at the scene of a crime. The evidence they examine can range from DNA (blood, hair, other bodily fluids), fabrics and other clothing substances, figerprints, and almost anything found on or in a body. In January of 2015, a team of forensic chemists solved the mystery of a 700 year-old Italian warlord’s death! From blood, to mysterious powder, to a dead body, forensic chemists tackle it all.

Almost all forensic chemists work in a federal lab, trying to analyze samples of substances such as DNA and match them with unknown specimens, usually to determine the suspect of a crime. Of course, some forensic chemists take up teaching or administrating jobs, but they still have fun teaching others about their crime solving process. Some forensic chemists are lucky enough to become promoted to crime director, and is in charge of managing other forensic chemists and writing case