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 you be fired if you accidently messed something up and ruined a case? Even if it was a total mess up and no negligence was involved. What if there was?

Asked by Melvin almost 6 years ago

That would depend entirely on what the mess up was and what it affected, and whether it was an honest mistake or the result of negligence or bias. For a serious mistake, yes, I'd probably be fired.

Can I ask you some questions for my novel? I need some things fact-checked. Probably too long to write on here.

Asked by Paula almost 6 years ago

Sure! Email me at Lisa-black@live.com.

Does a person have to have a strong stomach to do a job like yours?

Asked by Jerry over 5 years ago

It helps. But I know good homicide detectives who do it for years and still have a weak stomach and they do fine.

Can we make a profile of a suspect (skin color, eye color, etc.) from DNA? If not, why not?

Asked by Mrs.McGurkin over 6 years ago

I actually don't know. I haven't done DNA analysis in 20 years so I don't know all the details of what analysis can show. Sorry I can't be more help!

Can a hair test that came back false positive for alcohol be retested by another lab?

Asked by Joe over 5 years ago

I don’t see why not. But I wasn’t aware hair could be tested for alcohol, I thought it was only drugs and heavy metals.

Wow the person who continues to spam you does not realize is people like him are probably the reason he left. Anymore this site has just been spammers, trolls, people sharing links, people asking irrelevant and quite weird questions. what a shame

Asked by Follower almost 6 years ago

I can’t imagine having so little to do. That would make me crazy.

what does it take to become an forensic investigator? I am currently in sixth form and looking for a course in forensic investigation and wish for some extra information on what else would be needed.

Asked by Hannah brown almost 6 years ago

titles and job requirements aren't uniform, so the only way to know is to call the crime labs in your area or whereever you might be interested in working and ask them. At the coroner's office we had to have at least a bachelor's in a natural science (this was before they had forensic science majors). At the police department where I am now, they only require a high school diploma but you get more points in the interviewing process for having a four year degree, so we all have one. You can also go on the websites for professional organizations such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and check out their job vacancy postings and see what the various positions require. Good luck.