Associate Professor of Chemistry
American University
Raychelle Burks, PhD, returned to academia and forensic science research after a few years working in a crime lab. An analytical chemist, Burks enjoys the challenge of developing detection methods for a wide variety of analytes, including regulated drugs and explosives. Her current research efforts are focused on designing and testing field-portable sensors. Burks works on utilizing smartphones as scientific analytical devices to maximize portability. A chemistry enthusiast, she hopes to ignite her students’ appreciation of chemistry through innovative projects, multimedia education tools and probably far too many pop-culture references.
Burks helps create and organize “SciPop Talks!” a talk series blending science and pop culture. She is a science communicator, appearing on the Science Channel’s “Outrageous Acts of Science” and soon on the Smithsonian Channel’s “The Curious Life and Death Of...,” “ACS Reactions” videos, and at genre conventions, such as DragonCon and GeekGirlCon. Burks writes a science-meets-true crime column called Trace Analysis for the Royal Society of Chemistry magazine Chemistry World.
She is working to make STEM more inclusive and equitable, and is a member of several local, national and international committees, task forces and projects focused on social justice and STEM.