Career options for Forensic Biology and Toxicology at Murdoch University

Our Degrees are changing.

In 2014, Part I (first year) units will be introduced with Part II (second year and higher) units becoming available in subsequent years. Detailed information about Part II will be available here from mid-2014.

Find out more about our new degrees, or to get in touch and ask us what this means for you head to AskMurdoch. Continuing students can still access information for degrees commencing 2013 and prior in the Course Handbook.

Career options

Forensic Biology and Toxicology is the study of the application of techniques of molecular biology DNA-profiling and analytical chemistry drug and alcohol analysis to fight against crime.

Your employment prospects, as a Murdoch Forensic Biology and Toxicology graduate, are promising, especially when combined with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your Murdoch degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. The following are some professions to consider, including extra majors that will improve your prospects of achieving them.

Forensic Biologist

Forensic Biologists investigate crimes by collecting and analysing physical evidence. Often, they specialise in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or on substances such as fibre, glass, hair, tissue, and body fluids to determine their significance to the investigation. Proper collection and storage methods are important to protect the evidence. They also prepare reports to document their findings and the laboratory techniques used, and they may provide information and expert opinion to investigators. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians often give testimony, as expert witnesses, on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime.

Agricultural Technician

Agricultural Technicians work with agricultural scientists in food, fibre, and animal research, production, and processing. Some conduct tests and experiments to improve the yield and quality of crops or to increase the resistance of plants and animals to disease, insects, or other hazards. Other Agricultural Technicians breed animals for the purpose of investigating nutrition.

Medical Scientist

Medical Scientists study biological systems to understand the causes of disease and other health problems and to develop treatments and research tools and techniques, many of which have medical applications. These scientists try to identify changes in a cell or in chromosomes that signal the development of medical problems, such as different types of cancer. Medical Scientists who are also physicians can administer these drugs to patients in clinical trials, monitor their reactions, and observe the results.