Forensic Science Job Description

Forensic Science Job Description

Most people who watch tv have some idea what a forensic scientist does. There are so many tv shows on now where the crime scene technicians help to catch the criminals, and the case is solved based on evidence left at the scene. But what exactly is included in a forensic science job description? Let's go through the forensic science job description one part at a time.

The first part of a forensic scientist job description would be the educational requirements. Forensic scientists can be trained through a variety of programs, including certificate programs, Associates degree programs, Bachelors degree programs, and graduate degree programs. The trend is leaning toward most forensic scientist jobs requiring a Masters degree, preferably one from one of the programs accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

The next part of the forensic science job description might include the type of certifications the organization would like their scientist to have. These options include certifications from one or more of the following institutions: The American Board of Criminalistics, The American Board of Forensic Entomology, The American Board of Forensic Document Examiners, The American Board of Forensic Toxicology, The National Registry in Clinical Chemistry, and The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators.

Another part of the forensic science job description would be information on where the forensic scientist would be expected to work. Many times this is a crime laboratory for state or federal agencies, but this can also include such places as medical examiner's offices, hospitals, universities, toxicology labs, police departments, or as an independent forensic consultant.

Then the forensic science job description might go into the types of work that are expected of the forensic scientist. These include things like conducting and interpreting polygraph tests; investigating crime scenes through collecting and managing evidence; analyzing, identifying, and interpreting physical evidence; trying to date and source the paper and ink in documents; figuring out the time of death through body temperature, decay, and presence of insects; and crash, accident, and structural failure analysis.

Any forensic science job description would include specific duties that are required of the forensic scientist. These usually include performing tests on evidence collected. This might be matching ballistics or other tests on weapons, DNA tests on hair, blood, or semen, or doing tests to figure out what other substances found at the crime seen are, and what significance, if any, they have. They also need to document all of the evidence and the tests performed on it, and if necessary testify as expert witnesses if the case comes to court.

A final part of any forensic science job description would include the salary and benefits offered by the employer. Experience forensic scientists can make $40,000-$85,000, with lab directors making even more.

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