WVU Tech introduces new Chemical Forensics major on Beckley campus

Beckley, W.Va. (WVDN) – West Virginia University Institute of Technology announced a new major on the Beckley Campus giving students expanded access to career-oriented education Wednesday, July 31.

Students can sign up for the new Chemical Forensics major starting in the Fall of 2024 on the Beckley campus. This new major is provided through the newly established School of Arts and Sciences and will open new opportunities for students interested in learning how the fundamentals of chemistry can be used to help law enforcement solve crimes.

“We are very excited to establish this major,” WVU Tech Vice President for Academic Affairs Tamara Floyd Smith, Ph.D. said. “We are trying to keep future employability of our students in mind, and this program supports that initiative. Students can work for a range of governmental labs engaging in important investigative work.  Further, the major is one of many undergraduate pathways to professional programs in medicine and law as well as graduate study.”

Mark Vecellio is an assistant professor of forensic investigation at WVU Tech and a veteran in the field of criminal investigations and forensics. Vecellio is looking forward to offering a major that focuses on the essential scientific work within the justice system.

“The addition of the Chemical Forensics major affords students the opportunity to merge their interest in the sciences with crime solving. The demand for forensic chemists is growing as technology advances and the need for scientific analysis in criminal justice is increasing,” Vecellio said. “Students will learn from highly experienced practitioners who lead federal investigative training organizations, investigative agencies, and testified as experts in criminal court cases.”

Hasan El-Rifai, Ph.D. is the new Chair of WVU Tech’s School of Arts and Sciences. El-Rifai said the academic staff at WVU Tech are always looking at how students can receive the best return on investment for their education when they choose Tech.

“I’m proud to say we have one of the most advanced laboratories in Southern West Virginia if not the entire state,” El-Rifai said. “We have everything from a UV-VIS Spectrometer to one of the few scanning electron microscopes in West Virginia. One of the best parts is that our students get to use these tools themselves under our supervision.”

El-Rifai points to WVU Tech’s success in placing their graduates as a solid reason to join the program. He said this is because Tech gives students experiences they might not otherwise have at a larger institution.

“At most schools, students prepare their samples, then a lab technician processes their sample for them. Here, we teach our students to prepare their own samples, process them using advanced equipment and then how to analyze and troubleshoot the equipment. That’s why industry leaders come to us to hire our graduates. We prepare them to hit the ground running,” El-Rifai said.

Anyone interested in learning more about the chemical forensics program can visit wvutech.edu/chem . Those who wish to apply for the program should visit wvutech.edu/apply .

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