What Can I Do With This Major?
Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. They often specialize in areas such as DNA analysis, firearm examination, performing tests on weapons or substances (such as fiber, glass, hair, tissue, and body fluids) to determine their significance to an investigation. Proper collection and storage methods are important to protect the evidence. Forensic science technicians also prepare reports to document their findings and discuss the laboratory techniques used, and may provide information and expert opinion to investigators. When criminal cases go to trial, forensic science technicians often give testimony as expert witnesses on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime. Some forensic science technicians work closely with other experts or technicians; a forensic science technician may consult either a medical expert about the exact time and case of a death.
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Descriptions citied/complied from www.aafs.org
Criminalistics
Criminalists work in forensic laboratories in police departments, sheriffs' offices, district attorneys' offices, regional and state agencies, medical examiners' offices, private companies, colleges and universities, and for federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Federal Bureau of Identification (FBI), United States Postal Service (USPS), Secret Service (SS), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the military forces, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Services. Criminalists assist the United States Department of Justice in helping other countries create or update forensic services.
Forensic Wildlife
Wildlife forensic scientists are often required to develop new ways to identify species through research with carefully documented known specimens before they can examine evidence in a case and testify in court. An additional complication is that, while human forensics deals with only a single species (homo sapiens), wildlife forensic scientists must be prepared to identify evidence from any species in the world that is illegally killed, smuggled, poached or sold on an illicit market.
Anthropology
Forensic anthropology is practiced nearly everywhere there are skeletons to be examined. Traditionally, forensic anthropologists worked out of their laboratories at major research institutions or universities. The U.S. Government has recently hired forensic anthropologists at the U.S. Army-Central Human Identification Laboratory for repatriation issues. The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology - Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner employs a forensic anthropologist as a Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, and various state and local medical examiner offices use forensic anthropologists as medical investigators or administrators. Additionally, state and federal law enforcement agencies have hired physical anthropologists to act as special agents and laboratory personnel.
Toxicology
The forensic toxicology laboratory contributes a critical perspective to a death investigation, working with a forensic pathologist, and scene investigators, to determine which drug analyses or poisons are involved. Forensic toxicologists also work with law enforcement agencies in the investigation of crimes in which an individual's drug or alcohol use is an element of the crime or may be a defense. Forensic toxicologists work in police or law enforcement laboratories, medical examiner laboratories, and workplace drug testing laboratories. Other career opportunities exist in hospitals, universities and industry laboratories, and with agencies which monitor drug use in sports.