Chemistry And Forensics - Help w/Options please!

spdf
Sat, 31 Aug 2013 02:17:30 +0000

Not all of what sschoe2 wrote is true. Even though the work is all done according to existing protocols, forensics labs are hiring PhD’s when they can because “Dr. Analyst” carries more weight with a jury than “Mr. Analyst.” (In addition to lab work and immaculate paperwork, testifying in court is part of the job.) It doesn’t take a year of training to learn any of these jobs, though. The work has to be carried out in accordance with specified protocols in order to be admissible in court. If you can’t do routine GC or flame AA analysis after a week of training, you’re in the wrong field. Other areas may take longer to learn, but nowhere are they going to give you a full year to learn your job.

Forensics labs are usually broken down by divisions. The lowest of these is blood and urine analysis, which consists primarily of testing backlogged blood and urine samples for drugs. Then there is hair and fiber analysis, ballistics, fingerprints, and so on. The princes of the forensics labs are the DNA guys. Their section of the lab is off-limits to anyone not in the DNA group.

There are so few universities offering forensic science degrees that it’s really not necessary. A biology, biochem, or chemistry degree will serve just as well. Competition for these jobs is indeed fierce – some years ago I applied and was one of 14 applicants who got an interview. I have no idea why they interviewed that many people, but they got something like 100 applications for the job. A few months later they called me back about another opening, but I declined a second interview because I had just started a job elsewhere.