Intern
Rilee Pugh is a senior at West Virginia University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry with a minor in Psychology. Her coursework includes organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, forensic chemical analysis, analytical forensic toxicology, and trace evidence examination, providing her with a strong foundation in forensic science and analytical chemistry.
This summer, Rilee served as a Forensic Chemistry Intern at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), where she gained hands-on experience with mock controlled substance casework using techniques such as Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
Her favorite part of the internship was participating in a mock courtroom exercise, where she testified as an expert witness and explained scientific findings to a jury. She enjoyed combining science with communication and found the experience especially rewarding. Rilee’s long-term goal is to work as a forensic chemist in a controlled substances laboratory, where she can apply analytical chemistry to support criminal investigations and the justice system.
