A little bit about why I do what I do·

 Ever since my earliest exposure to murder and mystery through the literary realm, I have been drawn to a career in law enforcement.  Though the part I saw myself playing changed a few times as I grew older, the desire has never faded.  As I approach the end of my graduate education, I believe that I have made the best start possible on the road to excellence as a forensic scientist.  While, as of yet, I do not know whether my role will be fulfilled at crime scenes or behind the stage in the laboratory, both my education and my activities outside of the traditional classroom have prepared me for a career in law enforcement and investigation.

My pursuit of a doctoral chemistry degree is driven by my belief in the benefits to be gained by its application to the fields of forensic investigation.  I believe that entering the field of forensics with a firm background in chemistry will be of great benefit, providing familiarity and skill with a wide range of analytical techniques, a scientific foundation for problem solving, and the potential to develop new investigatory pathways.  Forensic research has grown from its early, sometimes less than "scientific" beginnings, maturing with the introduction of greater scientific breadth, and, as a result, there is an increasing need for individuals trained in scientific disciplines such as chemistry.

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