Saint Joseph's alumna recognized for forensic science work

Melissa Oberg's 1,698 laboratory examinations have provided help in solving 269 cases.
Melissa Oberg's 1,698 laboratory examinations have provided help in solving 269 cases. | File photo

Melissa Oberg, an alumna from the chemistry department at Saint Joseph’s College, has been recognized as the Forensic Scientist of the Year for 2015 by the Indiana State Police Department.

Oberg worked with the department's Lowell Regional Drug Unit after her graduation in 2005. She later moved on to serve as a civilian firearms examiner, where her 1,698 laboratory examinations have provided help in solving 269 cases.

Oberg attended Saint Joseph's from 2001-05. While studying chemistry, she also played on the tennis team.

“My time in the chemistry program at Saint Joe was a rewarding time as I had small class sizes and professors who truly cared about teaching their profession,” Oberg said. “The professors were willing to expose me and others to the outside world of chemistry with tours of facilities that offer professions in chemistry and professional conferences in chemistry. Chemistry can be challenging, however the program was structured, well thought out, and flexible in the sense that one could make it work for whatever their desire was for a world outside of college.”