Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Why do people ask you such non sense questions. If you look much of many of these questions the writing styles are the same I am getting the feeling someone or some people are messing around with the site and messing with the forms.

Asked by Jessica over 5 years ago

I agree.

What do you think about the BLM?

Asked by Kaylee over 5 years ago

I think I am an expert in some areas of forensic science. I am not an expert in law, public safety policy or our political system.

What would you say is the best way to get into forensic science? I’m either thinking of going into a forensic science course or doing a chemistry/ biochemistry Uni degree?

Asked by Katie almost 6 years ago

Either is good. It depends a bit on what you want to do. If you want to work crime scene, then general forensic science is probably good. If you want to go into toxicology, then chemistry, and if DNA, then biology or genetics.

Hope that helps.

What did you major in and where? Also did you have a minor?

Asked by Ramen over 5 years ago

I have a bachelor’s degree in biology from Cleveland State University. I didn’t have a minor.

What has been discovered or invented by you or other people who work in the field of forensics?
What is something I could tell my class and teachers that would surprise them about forensics?

Asked by Ella over 5 years ago

"Touch" DNA or "Contact DNA" can obtain a profile from an item that someone merely touched: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_DNA

I would say Rapid DNA, which can provide a profile in less than two hours and used in the battlefield, but that's been around since 2014.

And though you've seen it on TV every day for 50 years, it has not been possible for the average latent print examiner to scan in a fingerprint and search every person who's ever been fingerprinted, including job applicants and military. Most databases would be just county or state wide, and may or may not include job applicants (or staff) depending on the preferences of the agency, and certainly not the military, ICE or Interpol. At my department we only got the ability to remotely search the FBI database last year.

Hope that helps!

Do you think a forensic science certificate of proficiency (or any other forensic science certificates) is beneficial in any way?

Asked by Christina about 5 years ago

Yes, certification in any discipline is definitely a good thing to put on a resume.

I would like to know if an autopsy conducted on a woman buried in dry soil for three years
could determine if she had an abortion, being the cause of her death.
Thank you
Karen

Asked by karen_west@bigpond.com over 4 years ago

That’s a good question…I know that the human body will either decompose or desiccate, so if the conditions were right and she dried out instead of breaking down, then the body might be largely preserved. But what could be determined from an autopsy would be a question for a pathologist, I’m afraid. Sorry I’m not more help.