WVU Tech Beckley campus introduces Chemical Forensics major

BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia Institute of Technology on Wednesday announced that a new major will become available starting in the Fall to students attending the institute’s Beckley campus.

Provided as part of the recently established School of Arts and Sciences, WVU Tech’s Chemical Forensics major will present an array of exciting new opportunities for those with an interest in how the fundamentals of chemistry can go hand in hand with the process of criminal investigation.

“We are very excited to establish this major. We are trying to keep future employability of our students in mind, and this program supports that initiative,” says Tamara Floyd Smith, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs at West Virginia Institute of Technology . “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.”

An assistant professor of forensic investigation with WVU Tech, Mark Vecellio brings a wealth of experience in the forensics and criminal investigation realms. The professor expressed excitement at the notion of a major being offered at the school which brings a focus on the scientific process of forensics as it pertains to the justice system.

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

Those seeking additional information with regard to the newly presented Chemical Forensics program at WVU’s Beckley campus are encouraged to visit the WVU Tech website .