During my Bachelor studies I got the opportunity to do an internship at the Federal Forensic Science Service Austria for my final project. There, I acquired my first experiences in the forensic world by testing various techniques for visualizing fingerprints stained with blood. After this internship I was hooked on forensic science, so it was only natural that, after completing my chemistry degree, I looked for a chance to continue this path, which led me to the Master's programme in Forensic Science at the UvA. 

The Forensic Science programme offers a great introduction into a large variety of forensic disciplines, giving students the opportunity to find their passion within the forensic field. My love for statistics (I know, unpopular opinion) was nourished by various courses diving deep into various statistical procedures you will need as a forensic expert. The curriculum also offers its students, who mostly come from the natural sciences, different perspectives, for instance by taking a fascinating look into the world of criminal law. Besides theoretical insights, the programme also offers hands-on experiences, with the course Physical and Forensic Anthropology being my personal highlight. For my research project I returned to my roots as an analytical chemist and had the chance to work at TNO, where I studied concepts of applying data fusion on multiple spectroscopic techniques to improve the chemical identification of pesticides. 

After graduation, I returned to my home town Vienna and was very fortunate to quickly find a position at the Federal Forensic Science Service Austria, where I initially  found my love for forensics years back. Here I am the head of the document and handwriting examination unit. Even though I had no experience with this field previously, I quickly grew to love both disciplines. Ranging from examining fraudulent documents and determining the printer of a threat letter, to identifying the handwriting on a will, the diverse aspects and unique challenges of forensic science make every day exciting and new. For the future, I am looking forward to deepening my expertise in these two disciplines, as well as bringing the knowledge and experience I gained from the Master's into the Austrian forensic system. 

My final advice for students is to have an open mind and try many things, you might fall in love with a field you never considered before, like going from theoretical chemistry to becoming a forensic document expert. The master's programme offers you many opportunities to explore and learn - don't be afraid and take them!