Forensic Science Technician
Who Is A Forensic Science Technician?
Forensic Science Technicians visit crime scenes and collect, identify, classify, and analyse physical evidence related to criminal investigations. As a Forensic Science Technician, you will perform tests on weapons or substances to determine its significance to the investigation. You will collect all the relevant items and make an on-site investigation before the scene is cleared off.
Roles & Responsibilities
Visiting a crime scene. A Forensic Science Technician visits and examines scenes of crimes at the request of law enforcers and conducts on-site investigations around the crime scene to identify crucial evidence and crime trails.
Analysing samples collected from a crime scene. As a Forensic Science Technician, you will collect various samples such as hair, body fluids, glass, paint and drugs, depending on the nature of a crime. You will then analyse the collected evidence in a laboratory.
Applying forensic and scientific techniques to the investigation. Such techniques are used to analyse collected samples. Some of these include scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, gas and high-performance liquid chromatography, genetic fingerprinting, infrared spectroscopy etc.
Liaise with police and other law enforcement agencies. The police are usually the first respondents to a crime. It is the police and other law enforcement agencies who summon the services of a Forensic Science Technician.
Once at the crime scene, think of yourself as someone who will have to coordinate and work together with the law enforcement personnel while trying to solve the criminal cases.
Developing new forensic techniques and processes. Through the years of experience accumulated, you will be expected to put your learnings to use by improving the existing methods and developing standardised processes to conduct forensic practices.
Consulting experts from specialised fields. Working as a Forensic Science Technician, you will need to consult subject matter experts of areas such as toxicology (the study of poisons and their effect on the body) and odontology (a branch of forensic medicine that concentrates on teeth) to investigate the case in a better way and form a more informed opinion.
Take the Mentoria career assessment test, to find out how well-suited you are as a Forensic Science Technician.
What Skills Will I Need To Have To Do This Job Well?
As exciting as this sounds, there are some things you’ll need to learn to do the job right:
INVESTIGATIVE SKILLS
In the field, you must be an expert in collecting both biological and non-biological samples without contaminating them. You must be able to identify patterns of crime and spot evidence in the scene of a crime.
OBSERVATION SKILLS
Apart from the scientific part of forensics, general observation skills complement the expertise of a Forensic Science Technician fittingly. With astute observations, you can connect pieces of evidence to form a better judgment of the crime.
SKILLS IN THE LABORATORY
In the laboratory, the Forensic Science Technician is the person in-charge of the analyses being carried out. You must have an excellent working knowledge of chemistry, scientific methods and computers. You have to be an expert at conducting chemical tests under defined lab safety protocols.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Forensic Science Technicians should be good in communicating both orally as well as in writing with people within and outside of the workplace. These skills come in handy while reporting to superiors or testifying in the court, where they demonstrate and explain methods used both on-site and in the lab.
You should be able to show how you arrived at certain conclusions and how logic backs them.
CRITICAL THINKING
The Forensic Science Technicians has to think critically. You have to be able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various possibilities, probable causes and approaches to problems.
What Will My Workplace Look Like?
Forensic Science Technicians begin any assignment generally from the crime scene collecting and studying evidence using scientific techniques. Such visits can be distressing.
Working as a Forensic Science Technician, you will also spend a reasonable amount of time in laboratories. However, you could be working at other places beyond crime scenes and labs.
While work hours usually are divided into regular shifts, high priority cases and emergencies may need you to be on-call at odd hours.
There could also be the risk of exposure to hazardous substances. Fret not. You will always be provided with ample safety measures.
State and local governments are the ones who usually hire forensic science technicians. Private firms specialising in forensics could also be a prospective employer.
Due to scientific and technological advances, there has been an increase in the availability, reliability, and usefulness of objective forensic information used as evidence in trials.
As a result, the requirement for Forensic Science Technicians are expected to be on the rise; more of such professionals will be needed to provide timely forensics information to law enforcement agencies and courts.
With experience, you could move into a managerial role and direct other forensics staff as a forensics manager or casework examiner. You could also work as a reporting scientist, acting as an expert witness in court.
Thinking of a career as a Forensic Science Technician? Take the Mentoria assessment & talk to our career counsellors to get personalized step-by-step guidance for your future career path.
What Is My Scope For Career Growth As A Forensic Science Technician?
State and local governments are the ones who usually hire forensic science technicians. Private firms specialising in forensics could also be a prospective employer.
Due to scientific and technological advances, there has been an increase in the availability, reliability, and usefulness of objective forensic information used as evidence in trials.
As a result, the requirement for Forensic Science Technicians are expected to be on the rise; more of such professionals will be needed to provide timely forensics information to law enforcement agencies and courts.
With experience, you could move into a managerial role and direct other forensics staff as a forensics manager or casework examiner. You could also work as a reporting scientist, acting as an expert witness in court.
Thinking of a career as a Forensic Science Technician? Take the Mentoria assessment test & talk to our career counsellors to get personalized step-by-step guidance for your future career path.
Okay, I'm sold. This is amazing.
STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College
A junior college qualification in science subjects like Biology, Chemistry and Physics is desirable for higher education in Forensics.
STEP 2: Graduate Degree
Similar to junior college, pursue a Bachelor’s degree in the Science stream. Graduation in Forensic Science is offered by several institutions in the country. Otherwise, science subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, B Pharm, BDS or applied sciences are also relevant to prepare for a career in Forensics.
STEP 3: Master Degree/Diploma
Many institutes in India offer a Master’s degree or a postgraduate diploma in Forensic Science. These courses provide a further in-depth understanding of topics like DNA mapping, fingerprint analysis, handwriting examination, crime scene reconstruction, criminal psychology etc.
STEP 4: Land a Job
Once you are equipped with the right education, you will be ready to land a job or start private consulting as a Forensic Science Technician.
Congratulations, you are now officially a Forensic Science Technician!
STEP 5: PhD
A Forensic Science Technician intending to rise up the ranks or move into academic profile can pursue PhD after a Master’s degree or later.
Sign Up for Mentoria - India’s Most Reliable Career Discovery Platform
Mentoria promises to handhold you during your career discovery journey - from the time you sign up until you get into a career you love.