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

Would be able to give me a few tips on a resume since I'm going into the same field as you?

Asked by Steve almost 5 years ago

Sure, you can send it to: Lisa-black@live.com

How to identify if s nose was broken from a fall or from a punch

Asked by Doug almost 5 years ago

I”m sorry but I have no idea—you’d need a pathologist for that one.

Hi, Lisa Black I am Bobbie-Sue besides fingerprints or DNA what are other things that are looked at? Toe prints? There I am sure many other things besides those two things... right?

Asked by Bobbie-Sue over 4 years ago

We can compare footprints just as finger or palm prints, but there isn’t a database of footprints so you would have to have standards of the suspect’s feet. Otherwise I don’t know what you mean by ‘looked at.’ Everything is looked at, in a sense—there’s ballistics, fibers, bloodstain patterns, arson evidence, toolmarks, video and photo analysis, paint, glass, etc. and etc.

So do you pretty much get to do all the fun stuff without as much paper work?

Asked by Rae over 4 years ago

No, we have lots of paperwork. Lots.

Hello! I have a friend that wants to be a Forensic Scientist! He recently graduated high school and is transitioning to college. Is there any summer jobs/ internships you would recommend for him that can increase his exposure to the field?

Asked by Carter over 4 years ago

I don’t believe there would be any summer jobs at a police department or crime lab, and internships are usually given to students who are college juniors or seniors. Though they should check with the police department, there might be volunteer or Explorer programs. Otherwise any job that involves lab work might help—not just hospitals but food or water testing sites.

Best of luck to them!

If the song Before He Cheats happened in real life how would you investigate the vandalized car???

Asked by Sherri Karry Katie Perry over 4 years ago

I would fingerprint around all the damaged areas and the handles, and possibly collect a sample of paint in case the suspect’s keys were found (provided the state lab would do FTIR analysis on a non-violent case). And of course we’d check for any video cameras in the area that might cover the parking lot. And measure the width of the holes in the tires in case the suspect’s knife was located.

Is being a Forensic Scientist more of just a job, a career, or is it a lifestyle?

Asked by Mikey over 4 years ago

I think you could ask that about any job. It all depends on the person doing it; if it's only a way to get a paycheck, then it's just a job. If it's all they want to do, it's a career. If it occupies a lot of their personal time, it's a lifestyle. But forensic science can be demanding and most of all, unpredictable, so most people wouldn't do it just as a 'job.'Hope that helps!