Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

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.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Do you worry about the corona virus?

Asked by Jamie over 6 years ago

So far it hasn’t come up in my work, and we have lots of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

Hello! How easy is it to collect finger prints, scan them and identify a match (I imagine its very hard) but out of say 100 cases how many could actually be solved using fingerprint analysis?

Asked by Eliza almost 7 years ago

Generally about a 6 to 10% identified rate is good. Many prints that are collected at scenes by officers are ‘not of value for comparison ‘ (smudges or only have a few ridges) and many that are good belong to the victim or their friends, family, employees etc.

Can you visit and read this and possibly help me?

https://ogburn.brainhoney.com/Frame/Component/CoursePlayer?enrollmentid=95998597

Asked by Al over 7 years ago

Sorry, the link just took me to the sign-in page.

RESPECTED SIR/MADAM , I AM A B.COM GRADUATE. CAN I JOIN B.SC FORENSIC SCIENCE WITHOUT A SCIENCE BACKGROUND, IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY, PLEASE SEND YOUR VALUABLE WORDS.

Asked by MUBEENA M I over 7 years ago

I’m sorry but I don’t know what b.com is. The best way to know is to contact your local crime labs and ask them what their requirements are.

Best of luck.

Hi how are you, I just wanted to ask about the requirement for becoming a Forensic scientist , and if their any drawback, and if one can self employ after school

Asked by Rahmat over 7 years ago

The requirements to work in a forensic capacity depend upon the agency--it might be anything from a high school diploma to a PhD for DNA analysis. The only way to know is to contact each agency and ask. Or at least check their websites, or the websites of forensic organizations such as IAI and AAFS, which post job vacancies. Drawbacks can be a lower salary than in the private sector, hours of work, having to work overtime or be on call. I don't know what you mean by 'self employ,' sorry. There are no 'freelance' type forensic positions that I know of, unless you have a specialty like soil analysis or anthropology, then you might be able to work doing consulting work when needed. But you'd have to have many years experience before that would be an option. I hope that helps! Best of luck!

Will Nancy Drew make you a better in a job like this is what is in the game anything similar?

Asked by asdfasdfasdf over 6 years ago

I don’t know that game.

HI! Did you ever regret pursuing your job? Also, can you be both, a forensic scientist and a CSI?

Asked by Fenis over 6 years ago

No, I've never regretted it. And your job title is whatever your agency says it is, so 'forensic scientist' and 'csi' can mean different things in different agencies, so you can certainly be both. the first implies you work mostly in the lab and the second implies you work mostly in the field, but depending on the size of the agency and any specialization you have, you might do both equally or they might be completely separate.