Forensic Chemistry

Forensic chemistry is the application of chemistry and its subfield, forensic toxicology, in a legal setting. A forensic chemist can assist in the identification of unknown materials found at a crime scene. Specialists in this field have a wide array of methods and instruments to help identify unknown substances. These include high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thin layer chromatography. The range of different methods is important due to the destructive nature of some instruments and the number of possible unknown substances that can be found at a scene. Forensic chemists prefer using nondestructive methods first, to preserve evidence and to determine which destructive methods will produce the best results.

Along with other forensic specialists, forensic chemists commonly testify in court as expert witnesses regarding their findings. Forensic chemists follow a set of standards that have been proposed by various agencies and governing bodies, including the Scientific Working Group on the Analysis of Seized Drugs. In addition to the standard operating procedures proposed by the group, specific agencies have their own standards regarding the quality assurance and quality control of their results and their instruments. To ensure the accuracy of what they are reporting, forensic chemists routinely check and verify that their instruments are working correctly and are still able to detect and measure various quantities of different substances.

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Matching Forensic Chemistry Colleges

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Four or more years; Public; $28,800 average out-state tuition; $10,710 average in-state tuition

Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Four or more years; Public; $18,765 average out-state tuition; $10,776 average in-state tuition

Arizona State University-West

Four or more years; Public; $25,350 average out-state tuition; $9,613 average in-state tuition

Western Carolina University

Four or more years; Public; $5,000 average out-state tuition; $1,000 average in-state tuition

Sam Houston State University

Four or more years; Public; $15,648 average out-state tuition; $5,856 average in-state tuition

Eastern Kentucky University

Four or more years; Public; $19,724 average out-state tuition; $9,452 average in-state tuition

Towson University

Four or more years; Public; $22,152 average out-state tuition; $7,100 average in-state tuition

Scholarships for Forensic Chemistry Majors

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

$27,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary College

Mount Mary College

award

$27,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.

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National Space Club Keynote Scholarship

National Space Club

$20,000 November 17, 2025 See Details

Description

The National Space Club Keynote Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students with definite plans to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award.

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National Space Club Keynote Scholarship

National Space Club

award

$20,000

deadline

November 17, 2025
See Details

Description

The National Space Club Keynote Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students with definite plans to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible for this award.

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Science Ambassador Scholarship

Cards Against Humanity

$20,000 December 15, 2025 See Details

Description

The Science Ambassador Scholarship is available to women and non - binary high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in a STEM field. To be considered, you must submit a three - minute educational video of yourself explaining a topic in science that you are passionate about.

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Science Ambassador Scholarship

Cards Against Humanity

award

$20,000

deadline

December 15, 2025
See Details

Description

The Science Ambassador Scholarship is available to women and non - binary high school seniors and undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in a STEM field. To be considered, you must submit a three - minute educational video of yourself explaining a topic in science that you are passionate about.

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UCF Astronaut Scholarship

University of Central Florida

Up to $15,000 October 31, 2025 See Details

Description

The UCF Astronaut Scholarship is available to full-time junior and senior-level undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida who are majoring in Natural or Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics. You must have conducted a considerable amount of research in your field and be nominated by a faculty member to be...

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UCF Astronaut Scholarship

University of Central Florida

award

Up to $15,000

deadline

October 31, 2025
See Details

Description

The UCF Astronaut Scholarship is available to full-time junior and senior-level undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida who are majoring in Natural or Applied Science, Engineering, Technology, or Mathematics. You must have conducted a considerable amount of research in your field and be nominated by a faculty member to be...

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Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship

Lehigh University

$12,500 January 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship is available to female students who are pursuing a degree in STEM at Lehigh University.

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Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship

Lehigh University

award

$12,500

deadline

January 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The Alice P. Gast STEM Scholarship is available to female students who are pursuing a degree in STEM at Lehigh University.

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of...

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SEI Native American Education Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI Native American Education Scholarship is available to students interested in the solar energy industry. To be considered for this award, you must be at least 1/4 Native American Indian and a member of a federally recognized tribe. Selected candidates will be given tuition funds to cover SEI’s online or in-person training, with a goal of...

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SEI General Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI General Scholarship is available to students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected students to help facilitate their professional development and eventual entry into the solar energy workforce.

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SEI General Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI General Scholarship is available to students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected students to help facilitate their professional development and eventual entry into the solar energy workforce.

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their...

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SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship

Solar Energy International (SEI)

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SEI Energy Women in Solar Scholarship is available to female and non-binary students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. Preference will be given to BIPOC applicants. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected women and non-binary students to help facilitate their...

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EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

$10,000 Varies See Details

Description

The EAGLES Scholarship is available to junior-level and above students at Portland State University who are pursuing a degree in STEM. To be considered for this renewable award, you must be from an underrepresented background in STEM. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need. Students also receive mentorship from faculty and...

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EAGLES Scholarship - PSU

Portland State University

award

$10,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The EAGLES Scholarship is available to junior-level and above students at Portland State University who are pursuing a degree in STEM. To be considered for this renewable award, you must be from an underrepresented background in STEM. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need. Students also receive mentorship from faculty and...

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