Intern
Tyler Carlson is a rising senior at Penn State University pursuing a degree in Forensic Science, focused in Chemistry, along with dual minors in Chemistry and Psychology. With a strong academic foundation in chemistry and laboratory analysis, he is deeply passionate about both the scientific and educational aspects of his field, combining technical expertise with a commitment to effective pedagogy and student learning as a teaching assistant for Chemical Principles. His interests span forensic chemistry, analytical instrumentation, and the communication of complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
Through his academic experiences, Tyler has developed skills in scientific research, critical thinking, and evidence-based problem solving while gaining exposure to a wide range of forensic laboratory techniques.
This summer, Tyler served as a Forensic Chemistry Intern at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), where he 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). His favorite part of the internship, aside from the connections made with other interns, was participating in a mock courtroom exercise, where he explained his scientific findings as an expert witness to a jury of his peers.
