3 answers
Alan
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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What are your main responsibilities as a forensic scientist?
What kinds of problems do you deal with? What do you like least about your work
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3 answers
Alexander Badu-Boateng
Forensic DNA Scientist
2
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
Alexander’s Answer
I work on crime scene evidence and reference samples. So I extract DNA from anything biological, blood, semen, nails, bones, etc. I profile these samples using DNA technology and try to find out whether they match with suspect(s) biological samples.
Matthew Noyes
Criminal Forensic Investigator
7
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
Hi Alan,
There is a multitude of of disciplines for forensic scientists including biology, crime scene investigations, questioned document analysis, drug identification, firearms/tool mark identification, latent print examination, and microanalysis (trace evidence). Depending on the scale of your lab, a typical day will be receiving samples from police departments in your area (local, state wide or nation wide) and processing it using various techniques to assist investigators. Writing reports to document your role in the investigation, testifying in court, and completing ongoing training are essential to the job.
The type of lab you work for will ultimately decide what type of problems you will deal with on a daily basis. Common challenges among all disciplines within forensics are balancing budgets and managing a case load (many forensic labs are running more than 6 weeks behind).
The thing I like least about my job is all of the paperwork! Out of an eight hour work day I probably spend four of it on paperwork. Every single thing I have to do has to be documented so there is a form or report that has to be done with everything. It's very helpful when I have to go to court, but it takes away from other work that can be done.
I hope this helps!
There is a multitude of of disciplines for forensic scientists including biology, crime scene investigations, questioned document analysis, drug identification, firearms/tool mark identification, latent print examination, and microanalysis (trace evidence). Depending on the scale of your lab, a typical day will be receiving samples from police departments in your area (local, state wide or nation wide) and processing it using various techniques to assist investigators. Writing reports to document your role in the investigation, testifying in court, and completing ongoing training are essential to the job.
The type of lab you work for will ultimately decide what type of problems you will deal with on a daily basis. Common challenges among all disciplines within forensics are balancing budgets and managing a case load (many forensic labs are running more than 6 weeks behind).
The thing I like least about my job is all of the paperwork! Out of an eight hour work day I probably spend four of it on paperwork. Every single thing I have to do has to be documented so there is a form or report that has to be done with everything. It's very helpful when I have to go to court, but it takes away from other work that can be done.
I hope this helps!
Neschay Kummar
Sr. Manager - Learning & Development
4
Answers
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Neschay’s Answer
Hi Alan,
Like any role, there are different steps in the career path of a Forensic Scientist. Two prominent roles per ONET Online - an organization managed by the US Department of Labor, are Digital Forensics Analysts and Forensic Science Technicians.
Please refer to these links for the Forensic Science Technicians (https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-4092.00) and Digital Forensics Analysts (https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1299.06). In these links, you will also find tasks, work activities, work context, and career outlook.
You will also find interests, abilities, work values, and work styles which are extremely important points to consider when choosing a career option. What someone likes or dislikes about the work is dependent upon the degree of alignment between their interest and values and what a job role offers.
So, a couple of self-discovery questions to ask yourself are:
A. What are the values you believe in?
B. What are your areas of strong interest?
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions or need help in this self discovery.
Take care,
Neschay
Like any role, there are different steps in the career path of a Forensic Scientist. Two prominent roles per ONET Online - an organization managed by the US Department of Labor, are Digital Forensics Analysts and Forensic Science Technicians.
Please refer to these links for the Forensic Science Technicians (https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-4092.00) and Digital Forensics Analysts (https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1299.06). In these links, you will also find tasks, work activities, work context, and career outlook.
You will also find interests, abilities, work values, and work styles which are extremely important points to consider when choosing a career option. What someone likes or dislikes about the work is dependent upon the degree of alignment between their interest and values and what a job role offers.
So, a couple of self-discovery questions to ask yourself are:
A. What are the values you believe in?
B. What are your areas of strong interest?
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions or need help in this self discovery.
Take care,
Neschay