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Forensic scientists examine evidence from crime scenes using analytical techniques to build a detailed report which informs the outcome of legal proceedings. When a criminal case is taken to court, it’s often the work of forensic scientists that determines the result. It can be an exciting and worthwhile career pathway with many options for specialisation.
What does a forensic scientist do?
The role of a forensic scientist can involve many skills, however the primary function is to find and examine contact trace material associated with crimes.
The job requires a large amount of laboratory work, performing tests, analysing samples, interpreting data and writing detailed scientific reports of your findings for legal investigations.
You will be required to visit crime scenes to search for evidence material and may also be required to attend courtroom sessions to present your work as an expert witness. It’s a highly consequential profession where your work can have a huge impact on the case and the lives of those associated with it, so a rigorous scientific approach is taken at all times.
Some of the tasks which forensic scientist perform on a regular basis include:
- Testing samples, such as hair, textile fibres, glass, explosives and drugs, in the laboratory
- Performing scientific procedures such as mass spectrometry and genetic fingerprinting
- Organising evidence and building databases of reference information
- Visiting crime scenes and taking samples
- Working with police and legal agencies
- Building scientific reports
- Peer reviewing the work of other forensic scientists
- Defending evidence under cross-examination in court
- Researching new forensic methods
What’s it like to work as a forensic scientist?
There are lots of different career pathways within the field of forensic science alongside many companies and organisations in which you might be employed. However, there are certain things which all forensic scientists will encounter in their working lives:
A lot of lab work - This is a branch of science as much as any other, and a rigorous scientific method must be applied at all times. You’ll be spending a large amount of time in the laboratory working either on your own while under supervision, or as part of a small team of scientists and technicians.
Crime scene field work - Although this might not be a weekly event, it is likely that at some point you’ll need to visit the location of a recent crime or incident to collect crucial information and sample material which you’ll analyse later in the laboratory.
Working to a tight schedule - You’ll typically be working the usual office hours of between 35 and 40 hours per week. However, crimes can happen at any time and the first 48 hours after an incident are critically important for solving most cases. This means that you may be scheduled to do shift work or be on call and will sometimes be required to work evenings or weekends under tight deadline conditions.
Beyond this, you can expect to write up a lot of lab reports and scientific documents, as well as interacting with legal organisations and the public court system. The work is generally local and lab-based, but you may need to travel to attend conferences and training courses.
What skills do you need to be a forensic scientist?
To thrive in your role as a forensic scientist, you will need:
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Write reports in scientific and legal language
- The ability to deal with violent and distressing imagery
- Good colour vision
- Time management skills, and the ability to work under pressure
- An unbiased and logical approach in emotionally charged situations
- Superb written and oral communication skills
- Fine analytical skills and data interpretation abilities
- The ability to work alone and as part of a team
How much does a forensic scientist earn?
Salaries within forensic science depend on the type of company you work at, the type of clients they attract and your specific role within the organisation.
A typical entry-level salary for a forensic scientist is around £20,000 to £22,000 annually, although once you’ve gained a little experience on the job, your pay will likely rise to between £25,000 and £35,000 per year. Those who regularly attend court to present evidence and to answer questions from lawyers generally earn even higher salaries than this.
Due to the public service nature of forensic work, there are often additional perks such as healthcare plans and pension schemes. It is also worth noting that there are various specialisms within the field of forensic science, such as crime scene investigator, fingerprint technician, evidence technician, crime laboratory analyst, forensic medical examiner and many more, each with their own expected pay brackets.
How to become a forensic scientist
If this sounds like the sort of career that you’d like to pursue, then how best to get started? To begin working as a forensic scientist, the most straightforward way is to study a forensic science degree, or related science-based subject such as the following:
- Forensic Science
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Medical Science
- Biological Science
- Statistics
The main reason for this is that gaining a degree in any of these fields will require a candidate to have undergone extensive schooling in data and chemical analysis, laboratory protocols and procedures, and in some cases, a familiarity with many of the machines and softwares which professional forensic scientists use in their lab work.
Additionally, there is a particular style of scientific language which is used for lab work and report writing, and this will have been used throughout the course of these degrees.
When choosing your degree course, it’s a good idea to consider what type of course content will be included in the curriculum. This can be informed by your own aspirations within the profession, but it is also worth checking to see if the course is accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences (CSFS), which is a national regulatory body which upholds certain quality standards.
Alternative routes include finding a degree apprenticeship as a research scientist or getting a job as a laboratory assistant and taking further qualifications to work your way up. Lab experience is essential, and you might find opportunities in related medical or biological research and development centres.
