Forensic ScientistForensic Scientist

By Corey WilkinsBy Corey Wilkins

Job role!Job role!

Forensic scientists provide impartial scientific Forensic scientists provide impartial scientific evidence for use in courts of law to support the evidence for use in courts of law to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations. They are primarily concerned with investigations. They are primarily concerned with examining contact trace material associated with examining contact trace material associated with crimes. This follows the principle that 'every crimes. This follows the principle that 'every contact leaves a trace' that will offer potential contact leaves a trace' that will offer potential evidence to link a suspect with the scene of the evidence to link a suspect with the scene of the crime, the victim or the weapon.crime, the victim or the weapon.

Job activities!Job activities!

The type of activities you do are different to what The type of activities you do are different to what types of science you are into. The 3 main one’s types of science you are into. The 3 main one’s in forensic science are:in forensic science are:

ChemistryChemistry, which is connected to crimes , which is connected to crimes against property, such as burglary and arson.against property, such as burglary and arson.

BiologyBiology, which is connected to crimes against , which is connected to crimes against people, such as murder, assault and rape. people, such as murder, assault and rape.

Drugs and toxicologyDrugs and toxicology. .

What work involves!What work involves!

ChemistryChemistry - the examination of paint, - the examination of paint, chemicals, etc., including fire investigation and chemicals, etc., including fire investigation and accident reconstruction accident reconstruction BiologyBiology - DNA testing and the examination of - DNA testing and the examination of minute contact traces, such as blood, hair, minute contact traces, such as blood, hair, clothing fibres, etc. clothing fibres, etc. Drugs and toxicologyDrugs and toxicology - testing for restricted - testing for restricted drugs, examining tissue specimens for poison drugs, examining tissue specimens for poison detection, and the analysis of blood and urine detection, and the analysis of blood and urine samples for alcohol, for example in drink driving samples for alcohol, for example in drink driving offences. offences.

Salary!Salary!

If you are a trainee or assistant the salary If you are a trainee or assistant the salary is somewhere around £16,000 -£18,000 a is somewhere around £16,000 -£18,000 a year.year.

If you then have 2-3 years experience the If you then have 2-3 years experience the it goes up to about £25,000 - £30,000 a it goes up to about £25,000 - £30,000 a year.year.

At senior levels its about £50,000 plus a At senior levels its about £50,000 plus a year.year.

Training!Training!

There is a lot of training used for this job as you There is a lot of training used for this job as you are working in a science lab. The types of areas are working in a science lab. The types of areas you will need are:you will need are:

Laboratory skills and proficiency tests.Laboratory skills and proficiency tests.

Blood pattern analysisBlood pattern analysis..

Statement writing. Statement writing.

Health and safety.Health and safety.

Court room and presentation skills.Court room and presentation skills.

Project management.Project management.

Qualifications!Qualifications!

A forensic scientist needs a good degree result A forensic scientist needs a good degree result in any scientific subject is necessary. in any scientific subject is necessary. Possession of a forensic science-related Possession of a forensic science-related qualification at any level can be beneficial if you qualification at any level can be beneficial if you want to take toxicology and drugs. Relevant want to take toxicology and drugs. Relevant experience can be difficult to acquire as forensic experience can be difficult to acquire as forensic laboratories do not offer placements, so laboratories do not offer placements, so experience gained using similar scientific and experience gained using similar scientific and analytical techniques can be useful. You can analytical techniques can be useful. You can also take another science such as chemistry as also take another science such as chemistry as there may not always be that forensic scientist there may not always be that forensic scientist job going so you can use that qualification some job going so you can use that qualification some where else. where else.

My dream job role.My dream job role.

My dream is to work in the police force, forensic My dream is to work in the police force, forensic science as I have always wanted to be in the science as I have always wanted to be in the police force but since then at the Amersham police force but since then at the Amersham school I have a real urge for science as it is a school I have a real urge for science as it is a passion to me. At GCSE I’m taking triple science passion to me. At GCSE I’m taking triple science as I need these qualifications I'm also taking as I need these qualifications I'm also taking resistant materials as this is a fiddly subject and resistant materials as this is a fiddly subject and will I’m prove my hand, eye co-ordination I’m will I’m prove my hand, eye co-ordination I’m also taking p.e. as this will give me the other also taking p.e. as this will give me the other option of if the science role is not available then I option of if the science role is not available then I can be a officer for the police. Also at a level I can be a officer for the police. Also at a level I intend to take science. intend to take science.

Resources Resources

I use 2 websites also I used some I use 2 websites also I used some information on what I used when we did information on what I used when we did careers in class. The websites I used careers in class. The websites I used were: were: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/forensic_scienthttp://www.prospects.ac.uk/forensic_scientist_vacancy_sources.htm ist_vacancy_sources.htm http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/279565-forensic-scientist-job-descriptions/279565-forensic-scientist-job-description description

I hope you learned a lot about my dream I hope you learned a lot about my dream career.career.

Thank you for watching Thank you for watching

By Corey WilkinsBy Corey Wilkins

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Amersham SchoolAmersham School