Forensic Scientists and Reporting Officers
Though still lab based, as a forensic scientist you may be required to attend crime scenes in an advisory capacity. As this role is senior to the assistants, you may also have some supervisory responsibility within the lab depending on your role and work area. Forensic scientists are primarily concerned with examining contact trace material associated with crimes, looking for evidence to link a suspect with a scene of crime. All forms of analysis are used and the main areas of work involve biology, chemistry, drugs and toxicology.
Forensic Scientist Reporting Officers are trained to provide impartial scientific evidence for use in courts of law to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations.
All forensic scientists are required to have a scientific degree (usually in a biology or chemistry related subject).
Laboratory Attendants
Perform a number of essential support roles within the laboratory. For this role, previous work experience in a laboratory environment would be an advantage.
Assistant Forensic Scientists
Assistant forensic scientists undertake biology and chemistry-based analytical work. The role of an assistant is predominately laboratory based, so previous lab experience may be an advantage along with the necessary qualifications for this role. See entry level qualifications.
Medical Examiner
The highest pay but you have to be able to handle cutting up dead bodies, 7+ years of college and uncertain work hours. Although there are routine protocols, the ingenious ways people kill people create sufficient variety to combat boredom and provide a problem-solving challenge. The medical examiner usually requires a medical degree.
Forensic Serology
Forensic serology is the study of blood groups, blood, and other bodily fluids for identification purposes following a crime. Forensic serologists also carry out DNA fingerprinting, which offers the possibility of positive identification of an individual from samples of blood or semen.
Forensic Chemist
Areas of work includes the detection and identification of illicit drugs, accelerants used in arson cases, explosive and gunshot residues, trace evidence, including paint, glass, polymers and fibres.
Qualification required: Science degree with a major in analytical, applied or forensic chemistry.
Forensic Dentistry (Odontology)
It is a branch of dentistry which deals with the collection, evaluation and proper handling of dental evidence in order to assist law enforcement officers and in civil & criminal proceedings. The role of the odontologist is to identify bodies and skeletal remains from dental records, reconstruct faces from skulls and where possible, interpret bite marks.
Qualification required: Degree in Dentistry, Post Graduate Diploma of Forensic Odontology.
Crime Scene Examiners
Process scenes of major crimes at any hour of the day or night, under any weather conditions, systematically surveys area and formulates a plan of procedure. Physically secures crime scenes (using ropes, barricades, police personnel, etc.) before conducting a search for all objects and articles that may be evidence. The crime scene investigator must also be proficient in "reading" and reconstructing the events as they happened just prior to, during and shortly following the commission of the crime in order to determine the sequence of events and to ascertain the type and location of evidence. Gives advice and direction to case investigators in crime scene and evidentiary matters.
Crime Laboratory Analyst
Reasonably good pay and you generally work indoors with relatively stable work hours and relatively clean samples but the cases are often quite repetitive and routine. The microanalysis section probably provides the most variety but currently it is being phased out or scaled down in most crime laboratories. It will come back but look for slim pickings during the current "bottom-line" management fad. The crime laboratory usually requires a bachelor’s degree in a natural science for any of the specialties. The best degree overall is chemistry. If you are interested in DNA testing, then biology with genetics and biochemistry is required.
Dactyloscopy
Dactyloscopy is the scientific study of fingerprints. Fingerprints is perhaps the most well known of the forensic sciences. It also involves the identification of fingerprints and their ability to categorically link suspects to or exclude suspects from a crime scene.
Toxicology
Toxicology involves the detection and identification of illicit and pharmaceutical drugs and poisons, interpreting toxicity levels and the effects on the functions of the body.
Qualification required: Science degree with a major in chemistry or biochemistry.
Forensic Engineer
You will deal with traffic accidents, fire investigations, and a variety of wrongful injury cases. The work is much like that of the crime scene examiner but with fewer bodies and better hours and generally much higher pay. You earn that pay by the degree you obtain. The forensic engineer requires an engineering degree.
Photography
A crime scene must be photographed from every angle clearly to show detail, with the emphasis on accurately recording the size and distance of objects.
Forensic artists & sculptors
Forensic artists can draw a likeness of a person based solely on eyewitness accounts. Modern techniques of computer animation are now starting to be used to show evidence or expert testimony to courts. Forensic sculptors can reconstruct faces, usually in modelling clay or on a computer from skulls or other fragments. The expertise may enable the police to find out who a person was when no other clues are available.
Cytology
Bullet cytology is a new subject which makes it possible to determine which part of the body a bullet went through by the tissue which is left on the bullet.
Geology
Forensic geologists can determine such things as where the suspect or victim walked by examining soil samples taken from their shoes or feet.
Questioned Documents
Provides examination of documents involving a variety of forensic applications such as visual, microscopic, and photographic analysis.
These are just a few career paths a Forensic Scientist may follow. Primary qualifications are a degree in Biology, Chemistry, Engineering. Consult with your advisor for more informaiton on the wide variety of jobs you may qualify for in Forensic Science.
Prospective Students