Page 10 - Periodic Issue 01

W hereARE THEY NOW

.AME (ILARY (AMNETT

*OB &ORENSIC 4OXICOLOGIST

%MPLOYER %32 ,TD .EW :EALAND
%DUCATION -#HEM 3T #ATHERINE S
$0HIL ,INACRE
-3C IN FORENSIC SCIENCE
5NIVERSITY OF 3TRATHCLYDE

After eight years at Oxford, I was keen to use my scientific Forensic Toxicologists deal with cases ranging from drink-
knowledge to really make a difference. A brief investigation and drug-driving to sudden deaths and sexual assaults.
of the forensic job market revealed the extent of the Although some of my fellow students at Strathclyde
competition for a small number of jobs, and an MSc in found the complexity of toxicology off-putting, my DPhil
forensic science became my best option. had been a useful introduction to the idea that there’s no
straight answer to some scientific problems.
At Strathclyde I was introduced to toxicology – the study
of drugs and poisons and their effects on the body, and A solid scientific foundation in the form of a chemistry
as part of the MSc I spent three months conducting or biology degree is essential for Forensic Scientists.
research at the Forensic Science Service (the FSS). Chemistry opens the door to the most exciting areas of
The project was a result of the Steve Wright (The Suffolk forensic science including fires, explosives and illegal
Strangler) case in Ipswich in 2006, and was an invaluable drugs. My undergraduate chemistry still comes in useful
foot-in-the-door experience. After graduating and two today, not only in the lab but also when interpreting
years of applying for forensic jobs, I joined the toxicology spectra, understanding how chemical structures change
department of the FSS in Lambeth. I used the demise of and interact within the body, and searching for clues the
the FSS as an opportunity to go abroad, and now work for synthesis of illegal drugs may have left behind.
the New Zealand government as a Forensic Toxicologist. Without the fundamentals of chemistry, I’d have no hope
of explaining a complex chemical concept to the non-
scientists in the courtroom. Acting as an expert witness
is not for the faint-hearted however; a
certain amount of self-confidence and a
flair for public speaking are essential, as are
the abilities to think quickly and anticipate
questions and problems. The tutorial system
at Oxford was also excellent preparation for
being cross-examined.

I use the analytical and problem-solving
skills underpinning my chemistry degree
every day. It’s not just about detecting drugs,
the key is interpreting the results within the
context of each individual case. Sometimes
the absence of a drug can be just as
significant as a fatal overdose level.

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Periodic The Magazine of the Department of Chemistry