Forensic science calls woman

Watertown native Kelly J. Virkler decided she wanted to pursue a career in forensic science as a student at Watertown High School. Ms. Virkler now has a doctorate in chemistry from the University at Albany, a new job at a clinical toxicology lab and six published papers that she co-wrote with her professor on a new forensic method for analyzing body fluids at crime scenes.

"It's really exciting. I never thought that I'd have anything published," Ms. Virkler said.

She began working with chemistry professor Igor K. Lednev during her second semester at the University at Albany. Mr. Lednev then proposed that Ms. Virkler become involved with his body fluid lab and she accepted the opportunity, she said.

Now, Ms. Virkler and Mr. Lednev are waiting for the sixth paper they've co-written to be published.

Ms. Virkler's research focused on a new method of identifying body fluids at crime scenes. The method, Raman spectroscopy, is laser-based and nondestructive. The more widely used chemical method can be potentially destructive, Ms. Virkler said.

"From the beginning, Kelly established herself as a brilliant individual and extremely focused, organized and productive researcher," Mr. Lednev said.

Ms. Virkler graduated from Watertown High School in 2002. She is the daughter of Owen B. Virkler, Watertown, and Sue Ellen Machuga, Parish.

Ms. Virkler lived in Watertown until she went to college at the University of New Haven, Conn. Some of her favorite Watertown memories were of all the snow, spending time with her high school friends and working at the Watertown YMCA, she said.

She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of New Haven, where she majored in chemistry and forensic science, and graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average.

Ms. Virkler received her doctorate from the University at Albany in December, nearly two years earlier than the average doctoral chemistry student.

"I think it was due largely to our discovering a completely new technique," Ms. Virkler said of her early graduation. "Basically, everything we did was new and publishable."

When she graduated, a new job was waiting for her. She has been working at Calloway Labs in Woburn, Mass., for just less than a month. Ms. Virkler has been analyzing urine samples to see whether patients are abusing medications and to ensure patients are taking their prescribed pain medication, she said.

Ms. Virkler is happy with her new job and is looking forward to her future in the forensics field, she said.

"It's great," Ms. Virkler said of her new job. "I'm learning a lot."