Forensic science jobs go beyond lab work, with medical examiners, crime scene examiners, and forensic engineers also in demand. All roles aim to gather evidence to solve crimes, with attention to detail crucial to avoid compromising evidence.
While pop culture may indicate that forensic science jobs are limited to working in a lab running tests on body tissues and fluids, there are many others worth considering as well. Besides laboratory analyst, medical examiner, crime scene examiner or forensic engineer are also possibilities. Regardless of the chosen career path, the ultimate goal of all forensic science jobs is to cooperate with other law enforcement specialists to gather as much of the crime scene as possible.
The bulk of a laboratory analyst’s job is to examine evidence from a chemical and physical perspective. Testing bodily fluids and tissues and then identifying who they belong to is key to solving many types of crimes. From rape to murder, this work in forensic science plays a key role in finding the perpetrator in many cases.
Of all the forensic science jobs, the medical examiner may be subject to the most horrible type of job. Whoever chooses this career will be responsible for carrying out the autopsies. They usually work in the laboratory, but may also be called upon to work at the crime scene in some circumstances. Bodies can be in various states of decay. There are three main questions the coroner will need to answer: the manner of death, the cause of death, and the time of death. The form of death includes one of three possibilities: homicide, suicide or natural. Cause of death could be something like drowning, gunshot or heart attack.
The crime scene examiner is usually responsible for collecting evidence that the medical examiner and laboratory analyst will examine during the course of the investigation. While all forensic science jobs require a great deal of attention to detail, this one requires even more rigor to avoid compromising or destroying evidence. Without it, those in other forensic science positions will never have the chance to make the important discoveries that could solve the case.
The forensic engineer works with very technical types of investigations to determine causes and manners of incidents. For example, someone in this forensic work might need to determine whether a traffic collision or home fire was intentional or the result of an accident. This usually involves recreating the circumstances at the time the incident occurred. To do this, the forensic engineer must go back, many times looking at each cause and effect, to reach a conclusion.
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