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

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I have a niece that wishes to be a forensic scientist. She did not have the best grades and she is struggling trying to get her AA degree from a 2 year community college in forensics. She now has a baby. What would you suggest?

Asked by mikeruth12 over 7 years ago

She should try to get an internship with a local agency--city, county, state police or medical examiner's. Practical experience will count for a lot. However much depends on what kind of forensic scientist she wants to be--does she want to do crime scene work, in which case most of the training is on the job, or does she want to work in a lab, in which case she'll probably need at least a BA in biology or chemistry. She can check forensic organization websites and government websites for job vacancy postings to get an idea of what the job requirements are. She might also check out entry level positions. At our department we have PSA--Public Service Aides, a paid position that's basically a step between community volunteers and sworn officers. They do more cop-type things, but will make contacts and learn a lot. They do things like direct traffic at accident scenes, take burglary reports and process scenes for fingerprints. She might also want to consider that forensic positions involving crime scene work often have unpredictable hours and sometimes overtime, which might be difficult to juggle with child care arrangements.

Is it normal to find a body in odd and scary places like off a cliff or underwater? If so, is it an option to wait to get the body to lab to analyze or do you have to look at it no matter how bizarre the crime scene?

Asked by ubxh almost 8 years ago

Most people die in their homes, so that's the 'normal' place to find them, but there are plenty of more unusual incidents as well. It's never scary, though, since when I go there I'm surrounded by cops, EMS workers, possibly firemen, Medical Examiner staff etc. I always observe the body where it is found, since that is my job. The Medical Examiner's or Coroner's office staff examines the body at their lab, so they can choose to come to the scene or not. If the death appears to be straightforward and natural, they will often not come to the scene and simply have the body transported to them.

Good afternoon!im just a bit curious.... at what college did you go to?

Asked by Anna almost 8 years ago

Cleveland State University. I have a BS in Biology.

Should I get a bachelor's degree in forensic science or in a natural science?

Asked by Rose about 8 years ago

That depends on what you want to do. Call labs that you're interested in working for or peruse job opportunities postings at the major forensic organizations websites and see what they require.

Can the fingerprints of a living person be taken off a dead human body, namely the skin of the corpse? If so, what are the easiest places for that?

Asked by R-Mod over 7 years ago

Yes. It's not common, but prints have been lifted using superglue or the more recent RTX. The best areas would be those that are smooth, clean and largely free of hair.

Would taking Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Criminology for A levels be a good start for this job or should I opt for a different option?

Asked by Katrina over 7 years ago

I think those sound like fabulous courses for this field.

Why are some surfaces easier for fingerprints to rub off of than others?

Asked by Max G over 7 years ago

If you page up to the very first question, the answer goes into this in some detail.