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.
It may depend on how fresh the stain is and how fresh your reagents are. Plus just becuase something fluoresces does not mean it’s semen (see answer above).
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I would expect it to be like any other interview--they will ask about your education and experience. If there is any practical experience you have, such as lab analyses, fingerprinting, what programs you used, they may ask specific questions about that such as which software did you use, did you use a mass spec or an electron microscope, etc. If there's things you haven't done, you might say you're aware of the theory of, say, bullet trajectory analysis but haven't had any hands-on experience. That's perfectly okay, no one is an expert in everything. Best of luck!
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Sure, email me at lisa-black@live.com
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I'm sorry but that's beyond my technical expertise. You need a toxicologist for that one.
Best of luck!
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Every agency will have their own requirements depending on the position and their preferences. For crime scene or to work in an evidence dept, a criminal justice major may be fine. If you can find a forensic science program that may be great. There is no one answer because it depends what positions they have at each agency.
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DNA is genetic material. Substances that contain cells that contain DNA, such as blood and sweat and saliva can have many other substances as well, but a crime lab would likely only look for DNA.
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I'm not trying to be snippy, but no, I really can't. 'Forensics' could be anything from having a PhD in genetics to working in evidence intake. Start with why you're thinking about it as a career, what it is you see yourself doing. Then try to find facilities near you that do that and ask for a tour. It's a good way to get specific answers to specific questions as well as begin to make contacts in the field.
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