When a rare opportunity for promotion opened at the crime lab where Joe Pasternak worked, the forensic scientist jumped at the chance. His efforts paid off, and he became the technical leader of the biology section of the lab, a supervisory role that catapulted his career to new heights. Pasternak said this success would not have been possible without one tool in his arsenal: a master’s degree from the UF College of Pharmacy forensic science online graduate program.
“When an opportunity like this arises, you can’t say, ‘Well, let me go get my master’s degree now, and then I’ll be ready.’ That’s not how it works. It was one of the best decisions I ever made to get my master’s degree from the UF College of Pharmacy,” said Pasternak, who worked as the DNA supervisor and technical leader for the state of Montana Forensic Science Division. “My forethought and planning helped me get that job, and my career continued to build from there.”
Pasternak is among scores of alumni who learned the theoretical underpinnings and skills necessary to build promising careers in forensic science through the UF College of Pharmacy online graduate program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The distance education program offers 11 master’s degrees in forensic science, forensic DNA and serology, forensic drug chemistry, forensic toxicology and more, as well as 18 online graduate certificates in areas like fundamentals of forensic science and advanced forensic DNA technology. Classes are offered year-round, and a 32-credit master’s degree can be completed in under two years.
Nancy Toffolo, M.S., director of the UF College of Pharmacy forensic science online graduate program and an instructional associate professor of medicinal chemistry, said the program offers an unprecedented opportunity for professionals to gain a theoretical education paired with skills-based knowledge, all at a customizable pace. To date, more than 1,500 graduates from over 70 countries have completed the program.
“Our classes are designed to give students a strong foundation in the theoretical knowledge behind the analytical techniques used in forensics. They are learning the how and why encompassing many different disciplines of forensic science, as well as important skills used in the field,” she said. “Our program is geared toward the working professional. In fact, many of our students are currently working in the field of forensics, either at state or federal crime laboratories, or in private industry. We also attract students who are working in the sciences and looking to make a transition into the field, as well as students looking for an advanced degree before joining the workforce.”
Designing a career-forward curriculum
Back when the program was formed in 2000, it utilized brand-new Flash animation software and relied heavily on textbooks and photographs. Though dialing up the internet took a few moments, the program’s founders wasted no time creating a curriculum that benefited the working professional.
The forensic science online graduate program was created by Ian Tebbett, Ph.D., a former professor of toxicology in the UF College of Pharmacy, and Donna Wielbo, Ph.D., a former clinical associate professor in the UF College of Pharmacy. In 2000, Tebbett worked as the director of the newly formed UF Racing Laboratory, which tests racing horses and greyhounds for the presence of drugs. When his staff members expressed interest in improving their skills in toxicology, Tebbett began formulating a curriculum, believed to be one of the first online educational offerings in the field.
Not long after, he received a call from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, whose staff also expressed interest in furthering their knowledge of the topic. A spark was lit, and Tebbett began conversations with the FBI Laboratory Division in Quantico, Virginia, to better understand the training that these professionals needed. Based on these exchanges, Tebbett and Wielbo developed a curriculum that was both accessible and beneficial to professionals balancing busy schedules.
Tebbett said he attributes the program’s initial success and lasting longevity to a few key decisions: direct input from employers in the field, ramped-up marketing and outreach efforts and an emphasis on customer service.
“We employed instructors and teaching assistants who had been through the program, done well and were now working in operational forensic laboratories. That gives students real-life experience, as opposed to academics telling people what they thought they needed to know,” he said. “As the programs grew, we partnered with a marketing company to take it to the next level, though we later brought that department in-house. We’ve also been very good at customer service — when students sent us an email, they received a reply within 24 hours. A lot of students commented that we were far more responsive to their needs than other programs. The fact that we reached so many people who otherwise would not have been able to attend UF is what makes me so proud.”
Building networks that last
As the online graduate program expanded throughout the years, so did its network of students, instructors and alumni. Many who complete the program say they’ve gained a community of trusted colleagues who can be relied upon for professional development opportunities, even within the program itself. After Toffolo became one of the program’s earliest graduates in 2005, she accepted a faculty position within the program in 2009. Oliver Grundmann, Ph.D., assistant dean for lifelong learning and a clinical professor of medicinal chemistry in the UF College of Pharmacy, had a similar journey.
Grundmann completed his master’s in forensic toxicology alongside his Ph.D. studies at UF. Only one year after Grundmann earned his master’s, he received a call from Tebbett, inquiring if he’d like to lead efforts in launching graduate programs in pharmaceutical chemistry and clinical toxicology. He accepted the offer and now directs both programs, in addition to serving as an assistant dean of the college, ensuring faculty receive the necessary support to operate the online programs smoothly. The 2019 winner of the UF Career Influencer Award said he enjoys his work with the program for a couple reasons.
“First, the breadth of knowledge and experience that we see in our courses is so impressive. We have a very diverse group of working professionals in our program, and that creates a dynamic in which, every semester, I learn something new from our students,” Grundmann said. “It’s also so rewarding to be part of our students’ academic journeys, and to hear from our graduates how the program benefited them and the next steps they took in their careers. Seeing the successes of our students is what motivates me daily to continue to work with these incredible working professionals in our programs.”
After Pasternak retired from the Montana Forensic Science Division, he landed a position that he considers the culmination of his professional career: a global validation scientist with Promega, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of molecular biology products and instruments. He travels to forensic labs throughout the world to help validate new chemistries used to perform DNA analysis and integrate robotics workflows. Though the position keeps him busy, he makes time each day for another, equally important responsibility: instructing students within the UF College of Pharmacy forensic science online graduate program.
Pasternak is an instructional assistant professor who teaches forensic genetics, metabolic biochemistry and mammalian molecular biology, and he assists Toffolo in her course on principles of nucleotides. Currently, he’s writing the curriculum for a new course in advanced DNA techniques based on his professional experience. He said he’s pleased to pay it forward to the program that brought him so much success.
“This is very cliché, but I say this to everyone when they’re considering an advanced degree: You get out what you put in. If you put a lot into this program, you’re going to walk away with a tremendous amount of knowledge. And that doesn’t just stop at graduation. You’re part of the Gator Nation always, and faculty, staff and even former students are there to support you with letters of recommendation or talking about your career path,” he said. “For me, this program hasn’t just delivered on what it offered me initially — it’s doubled and tripled the payoff, and it’s afforded me great opportunities.”