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.
I would never want to discourage someone from this field because I love it. But it's a very popular field right now so I would also advise anyone to have a career plan B.
That every day is different.I don't like after-hours calls. I didn't have a minor. As many science classes as you can.
That all depends on where you work and what your job duties are. I spent about 90% of my time sitting in front of a computer looking at fingerprints. When I was at the coroner's office I probably spent 40% of the time examining victim's clothing, 10% on gunshot residue testing, 30% on hairs and fibers, and 20% everything else.
Usually the biggest worry is getting sick or faint around dead bodies. But actually they rarely do.
Hospice Nurse
How did you feel with the passing of your first patient?
Flight Attendant
What's the scariest flight you've ever been on?
Air Traffic Controller
When would you order fighter jets to be scrambled?
Sure, you can email me at lisa-black@live.com, but I'm traveling and won't be able to get back to you for another week at least.
Where I live we have many burglaries. There really isn't a busiest time of year, though things sometimes pick up when the kids are out of school. When I worked at the coroner's office I also swore there were more homicides in September and December.
All the interesting, different, bizarre stories that make up the crimes that have happened that we have to investigate.
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