Ask a Forensic Scientist anything

989 Questions

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

My final question is why do conservatives not get to protest the lock down orders but ANTIFA, BLM, and other leftist groups can and they let them tear up things and sit in the middle of the road?

Asked by WE THE PEOPPE about 6 years ago

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

415 Votes

I have to choose my major so are there branches of this career like examining bodies etc or does a forensic scientist have to do it all and what subjects should i take in school the subjects that my school provides are phys bio maths chem

Asked by dania almost 6 years ago

All of those are good. Take as many science courses as you can. Much depends on where you want to work and what you want to do. If you want to do DNA analysis and testify in court about it, you may need a PhD in genetics. If you want to work at crime scenes bagging and tagging evidence, you may need only a high school diploma, with added hireability for advanced degrees. The only way to know is to check job opening notices or call the agencies and ask. I would also suggest that you look for schools that have hands-on lab work with forensic topics such as fingerprints or crime scene work. Best of luck to you.

415 Votes

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

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Does it help my chances of employment if I am a certified peace officer? I know your a civilian but if having the added peace officer certification along with everything else does it help, hurt, or make no difference? Plus I get to carry a gun and badge

Asked by Parker almost 6 years ago

I would think it would help because it would show some familiarity with law enforcement agency procedures. Even if you work for a completely civilian agency such as a medical examiner’s office, you would still be interacting with law enforcement constantly, so I would think it would help. Though even if you can carry a gun and badge in your everyday life, you probably wouldn’t be able to carry it on the job unless it was all right with your employer.

414 Votes

Are there any famous cases in history that involved thin layer chromatography (TLC) that you are aware of? Or any interesting facts many would not know?

Asked by Mike over 5 years ago

I”m sorry but I”ve never used thin layer chromatography. If I had, it most likely would have been to distinguish extracted fiber dyes. As far as I know it’s the only way to determine if natural fibers likely had the same source.

414 Votes

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A person bites a victim. How difficult would it be for police to track them down based on their DNA?

Asked by Miguelito about 5 years ago

Not at all difficult IF the person’s DNA profile is already in CODIS.

414 Votes

I have my first interview out of college for a forensic chemist position. Do you have any tips for a first timer? Are there any questions I should really prepare for?

Asked by MIKE about 5 years ago

Wow, best of luck!! I would suggest you Google the heck out of the facility and find out everything you can about what they do—if it’s a state lab, what kind of evidence they accept from the state agencies. They probably test for illegal drugs, but are they testing the actual drugs seized, or bodily fluids from arrested people, or blood/urine/gastric samples from medical examiners or coroners offices—or all three. If you can’t find the information then that’s a good and reasonable question to ask. They’re sure to ask you what kind of instrumentation you’ve worked with, in class or in an internship, etc.—GC Mass Spec, IR, etc., how much experience and what kind of samples you tested. PS If it’s not posted you might want to ask about hours and/or overtime. They might be 9-5 M-F or they might be 24/7, depending on the size and location.

Best of luck!!

414 Votes

My was found deceased. I found him on his back. He had lividity on his inner forearms, palms was clear, lividity on his forehead, across his back side across his shoulders and on both sides of his rib cage down to his hips. Chest was clear. Position?

Asked by Jennifer almost 6 years ago

Lividity can be patchy depending on areas of pressure. So you can have reddened areas where the blood flowed in and stayed next to clear areas where the body was pressed against a surface and the blood couldn't pool. You would need to talk to a pathologist for more thorough information. I'm sorry for your loss.

413 Votes

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Forensic Scientist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

My final question is why do conservatives not get to protest the lock down orders but ANTIFA, BLM, and other leftist groups can and they let them tear up things and sit in the middle of the road?

I have to choose my major so are there branches of this career like examining bodies etc or does a forensic scientist have to do it all and what subjects should i take in school the subjects that my school provides are phys bio maths chem

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Does it help my chances of employment if I am a certified peace officer? I know your a civilian but if having the added peace officer certification along with everything else does it help, hurt, or make no difference? Plus I get to carry a gun and badge

Are there any famous cases in history that involved thin layer chromatography (TLC) that you are aware of? Or any interesting facts many would not know?

Also on Jobstr...

A person bites a victim. How difficult would it be for police to track them down based on their DNA?

I have my first interview out of college for a forensic chemist position. Do you have any tips for a first timer? Are there any questions I should really prepare for?

My was found deceased. I found him on his back. He had lividity on his inner forearms, palms was clear, lividity on his forehead, across his back side across his shoulders and on both sides of his rib cage down to his hips. Chest was clear. Position?

Forensic Scientist

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

My final question is why do conservatives not get to protest the lock down orders but ANTIFA, BLM, and other leftist groups can and they let them tear up things and sit in the middle of the road?

I have to choose my major so are there branches of this career like examining bodies etc or does a forensic scientist have to do it all and what subjects should i take in school the subjects that my school provides are phys bio maths chem

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Does it help my chances of employment if I am a certified peace officer? I know your a civilian but if having the added peace officer certification along with everything else does it help, hurt, or make no difference? Plus I get to carry a gun and badge

Are there any famous cases in history that involved thin layer chromatography (TLC) that you are aware of? Or any interesting facts many would not know?

Also on Jobstr...

A person bites a victim. How difficult would it be for police to track them down based on their DNA?

I have my first interview out of college for a forensic chemist position. Do you have any tips for a first timer? Are there any questions I should really prepare for?

My was found deceased. I found him on his back. He had lividity on his inner forearms, palms was clear, lividity on his forehead, across his back side across his shoulders and on both sides of his rib cage down to his hips. Chest was clear. Position?

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