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

What is the most important piece of evidence at a crime scene?

Asked by Andrew over 10 years ago

Whatever points conclusively to the identity of the perpetrator. That could be a fingerprint or DNA or some personal item they used or their picture on a surveillance video.

Hi, I'm a criminal justice major and we are supposed to interview someone in the field we want to go in. many of my questions have been answered but I have a few more.
First,
How did you get your jobs? Connections? Any specific procedure? Thank you

Asked by Renee over 11 years ago

I've had two jobs in forensics and didn't have connections to get either. I didn't get a number of jobs because they were already planning to hire someone's brother-in-law, but I eventually got a position. The procedure is whatever the agency requires and they will all be different, so you need to check out the websites of any agency you would like to apply to. They will usually have a clearly defined process for application.

can one work as both forensic archaeologist and pathologist too ?

Asked by jeojaral_123@yahoo.com over 11 years ago

I don't see why not. I'm sure a coroner's or medical examiner's would love to have a pathologist trained in excavating buried bodies and crime scenes. However if you want to work as a pathologist but also do archaology work for other agencies or take leaves to work on archaeological digs, you'd have to work for an agency that would be okay with you working as a pathologist part time. 

Do you plan on trying to get a job in another field of forensics in the future?

Asked by Renee over 11 years ago

No, I'm happy where I am.

Do you have to be extremely smart to be a forensic scientist or is it more learning how everything works?

Asked by Kristen Scott over 11 years ago

Oh yes, I'm extremely smart. Just kidding! No, you don't have to be some kind of friggin' genius like you see on TV. You just have to be reasonably intelligent, reasonably sensible, reasonably observant, and have a good amount of attention to detail, respect for rules, and patience. It also helps to be pleasant and able to get along with people. Even though most of our victims are dead, the families, witnesses, cops and detectives are very much alive and under a lot of stress.

Is there any job security in your field? Have you worked in any other fields of forensics? What were they like?

Asked by Renee over 11 years ago

I talked about what the coroner's office was like above. There's great job security if, as in any other field, you do a good job, you're fair and reasonable, you are empathetic to victims and suspects and other co-workers, and you're reliable and steady. People have to be able to depend on you.

What do you think is the most essential invention in forensic science for solving crimes?

Asked by Danielle over 10 years ago

1) The camera.2) Fingerprint science. 3) DNA analysis.