Forensic Science Technicians

Collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in area of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.

Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

1. Testify in court about investigative and analytical methods and findings.

2. Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.

3. Interpret laboratory findings and test results to identify and classify substances, materials, and other evidence collected at crime scenes.

4. Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.

5. Prepare solutions, reagents, and sample formulations needed for laboratory work.

6. Analyze and classify biological fluids using DNA typing or serological techniques.

7. Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.

8. Identify and quantify drugs and poisons found in biological fluids and tissues, in foods, and at crime scenes.

9. Analyze handwritten and machine-produced textual evidence to decipher altered or obliterated text or to determine authorship, age, or source.

10. Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.

11. Examine DNA samples to determine if they match other samples.

Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education: Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

The college search results are undergraduate programs associated with Forensic Science Technicians. Further education may also be required to pursue this career.

The training search results include both short and long-term programs associated with Forensic Science Technicians, and may be more appropriate for adult and non-traditional students. Further training may also be required to pursue this career.

In US the average wage for this occupation was:

$44,880 for entry level workers, and $67,480 for experienced workers.

Syracuse University Summer College Forensic Science Program - Summer College Forensic Science program is intended to provide an introduction to understanding the science behind crime detection. Topics included are blood analysis, organic and inorganic evidence analysis, microscopic investigations, hair analysis, DNA, forensic psychology, drug chemistry and toxicology, fiber comparisons, paints, glass compositions and fragmentation, fingerprints, soil comparisons and arson investigations, among others.

TechGirlz Camp - Science or technology-minded girls who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and entering 8th grade will build their own computers, investigate ?crime scenes,? use high-tech lab equipment to solve problems and more.

Summer at RPI: Whodunit? The Science of Crime Scenes - This is two-week day camp provides middle school students an introduction to forensic science. Through class room lessons, hands-on laboratory exercises, field trips, and relevant guest speakers, students will learn the science behind crime scene investigations. This program is intended for students who have no prior experience with forensic science, but have an interest in learning about the topic.

College of SUNY Geneseo Young Scholars Adventures: Summer Academy for Crime Scene Investigators - The Summer Academy for Crime Scene Investigators introduces students, grades 4 to 6 and 7 to 9, to the enchanting world of forensic investigation! Learn about and participate in a number of hands-on, state-of-the-art techniques and tests.

Science technicians - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Saint Rose Summer Academy for Youth: Science and Technology - Hands on activities focusing on a variety of themes including: forensics, landscape architecture, web design and more.

Summer Safari at Plattsburgh State University 2007 - Camp Med, Magic World of Chemistry, Forensics: To Catch a Thief, Anatomy and Physiology Lab, Experimenting Excitement, and Creating Music Thru Technology are but a few of the exciting camp themes for you to explore at Summer Safari 2007.

Putting DNA to Work - Explore how DNA analysis can catch criminals, improve crops and stop epidemics. Through these interactive multimedia activities you can explore some of the applications of DNA technology and discover some of the many ways these uses may affect your life.

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) - As a professional society dedicated to the application of science to the law, the AAFS is committed to the promotion of education and the elevation of accuracy, precision, and specificity in the forensic sciences. Academy's members are physicians, attorneys, dentists, toxicologists, physical anthropologists, document examiners, psychiatrists, physicists, engineers, criminalists, educators, and others.

Crime Scene Investigation Camp - Camp participants receive expert instruction from FBI investigators, State Police, ballistics experts, scientists and even a professional psychological profiler.

Summer Academy for Youth: Explore a Dynamic Frontier (Week 5) - Hands-on activities focusing on a variety of themes including: forensics, landscape architecture, web design and more.

Rochester Institute of Technology National Technical Institute for the Deaf TechGirlz Camp - Science or technology minded girls who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and entering 8th grade build their own computers, investigate crime scenes and use high tech lab equipment to solve problems and more at TechGirlz Camp.

JCC Summer 2007 Workshops:Kids Camp Series - JCC Summer 2007 Workshops Kids Camp Series topics include the exploration of local wetlands and identify water pollution levels in local streams (The 3 Cs: Critters, Chemistry and Computers ), learn the techniques used by forensic scientists (Jefferson CSI ), and hands on demonstrations and a dissection experience(Camp Med )with Samaritan Medical Center.

SUNY New Paltz Summer Camp: Mad Science Secret Agent Lab - Mad Science has sparked imaginative learning with their unique brand of engaging and educational live programs and activities. Secret Agent Lab - delve into the mysteries of forensic science! Discover different methods of secret writing and break coded messages in a quest for treasure. Explore the world of optics and make your own camera obscura and kaleidoscope. Use chemistry to identify mysterious substances, and mix your own chemical reactions.

Summer Science Academy for Kids and Teens - Is your child a doctor or scientist in the making? Come to The Science Academy for a summer of scientific investigation and fun!

Westchester Community College Summer Science Academy for Kids and Teens - Review the basic principles of biology, use skeletons and models to explore basic human anatomy, play detective and try to identify illnesses and learn more about cloning, DNA, and designing genes at the Summer Science Academy for Kids and Teens.

Discovery Channel School's Lesson Plans Library - View the list of brand-new lesson plans for elementary, middle and high school students. Lesson plans include the sciences, mathematics and technology. Hundreds of original lesson plans, all written by teachers for teachers are easily accessible. Use the pull-down menus to browse by subject, grade, or both.

Summer Workshops for Kids - Explore local wetlands and identify water pollution levels in local streams (The 3 C's: Critters, Chemistry & Computers ), learn the techniques used by forensic scientists (Jefferson CSI ), or hands-on demonstrations and a dissection experience(Camp Med )with Samaritan Medical Center .

FivePoints - FivePoints is Union College's premier summer academic program for rising 8th-12th grade boys and girls. Forensic Science,one of seven course choices, is a multidisciplinary enterprise which incorporates the basic principles of biology, chemistry and physics.

SUNY Cobleskill Crime Scene Investigation Camp - Camp participants receive expert instruction from FBI investigators, State Police, ballistics experts, scientists and even a professional psychological profiler.

Pace University Summer Scholars Program 2007: Forensic Science Uncovering CSI - CSI has nothing on the Forensic Science Program at Pace. Come see how the real experts do it! From the crime scene to the laboratory, students will learn how forensic anthropologists recover and analyze skeletal remains and a look into the crime lab, students will see what a forensic scientists do on a daily basis.

Summer Safari at Plattsburgh State University 2006 - Chemistry, Forensics, Anatomy and Physiology,Experimenting Excitement,Making Math Magic and Kids Creating Music Thru Technology are but a few of the exciting camp themes for you to explore at Summer Safari.

Union College: FivePoints - FivePoints is Union College's premier summer academic program for rising 8th to 12th grade boys and girls. Forensic Science,one of seven course choices, is a multidisciplinary enterprise which incorporates the basic principles of biology, chemistry and physics.

Environmental Compliance Inspectors - Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

Coroners - Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

Product Safety Engineers - Develop and conduct tests to evaluate product safety levels and recommend measures to reduce or eliminate hazards.

Food Science Technicians - Perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products.

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health - Performs laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health. Under direction of an environmental scientist or specialist, may collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing and take corrective actions as assigned.

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists - Review, evaluate, and analyze work environments and design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. May conduct inspections and enforce adherence to laws and regulations governing the health and safety of individuals. May be employed in the public or private sector.

Fire Investigators - Conduct investigations to determine causes of fires and explosions.

Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers - Control the operation of petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders - Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.