Want to work in forensic science, but not sure what exactly you want to do? No problem, we’ve rounded up a range of jobs in this fascinating and challenging area of work… check 'em out!
But first…
It’s unlikely you’ll be able to jump straight into a job in forensic science without relevant qualifications. This may seem ages away, but it’s worth planning ahead. You'll need to take GCSEs in science subjects and maths to get into courses later on – and English will be handy too.
After your GCSEs, you can move on to take two or three science A-levels. And then for most of these jobs you'll also need a science degree…
It'll be worth all that studying though. Check out the amazing things you could end up doing!
FORENSICS CAREERS TO GO…
Finger Print Expert
Forensic Chemist
Forensic Entomologist
Forensic Artist or Sculptor
Forensic Anthropologist
Crime Scene Photographer
Ballistics Expert
Forensic Linguist
Forensic Psychologist
Forensic Pathologist
Solicitor / Barrister
Mechanical and forensic engineer
Forensic Clinical Psychologist
Forensic dentist
Forensic Document Examiner
Science Teacher
Crime Writer
Finger Print Expert
‘Dactyloscopy’ (that’s the posh word for the study of fingerprints) is still widely used to catch the bad guys. You’ll need a good eye for detail and not mind being busy.
Want more info?
www.forensic-training.police.uk/courses_03_intro.html
... or check out our interview with Finger print expert: David Charlton
Forensic Chemist
Forensic chemists are called in to analyse substances and samples found at crime scenes. You might have to analyse a fibre from someone’s clothes and work out what it was made out of, or even find out what sort of clothing it was from and may be even who made it.
Want more info?
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Forensic Entomologist
If you’re into creepy-crawlies, this could be the job for you. Maggots, for example may not say much, but they could help you solve a murder. When maggots are found on a corpse, experts can tell how old they are – and therefore how long the body’s been dead…
Want more info?
www.nhm.ac.uk/entomology
... or check out our interview with Forensic entomologist: Martin Hall
Forensic Artist or Sculptor
Are you good at art as well as science? Forensic artists are asked to recreate elements of a crime so that other people can imagine them. You might, for example, have to draw a person’s face just from the description that another person – such as an eyewitness - gives you.
Similarly, a forensic sculptor will use clay models and computers to map a face onto a skull, so they can recreate what the person looked like.
Want more info?
www.gla.ac.uk
... or check out our inteview with Auriole Prince: Forensic Artist
Forensic Anthropologist
Could you put together a person from a pile of bones? This is what a Forensic Anthropologist is asked to do when bones are found, but they don’t make up a complete skeleton. They have to be pieced together by an expert so that the height, weight and age of the deceased can be calculated...
Want more info?
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Crime Scene Photographer
Would-be snappers can also become key forensic specialists. It can be quite a tough job making sure that all the details of a crime are recorded photographically after a crime occurs, which is why the police call in an expert crime scene photographer…
Want more info?
www.forensic-training.police.uk/courses_01_1.html
Ballistics Expert
Ballistics Experts are specialists in firearms. They are able to put their knowledge of projectiles and how they travel to calculate details of how gun crimes were committed.
Want more info?
www.forensic-training.police.uk/home.html
Forensic Linguist
How are your ears? Can you tell what people are thinking just by listening to them speak? Can you tell how old they are? Or where they’re from? If so, you might have what it takes to become talented Forensic Linguist.
What’s more, forensic linguists are also trained to be skilled in handwriting analysis …
Want more info?
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Forensic Psychologist
Are you good at working out what people are thinking, or what’s motivating them? Even when they’re trying to deceive you?! If so, there might be a job for you as a forensic psychologist… These experts are called in by the police to help track down serial killers or murderers, by working out characteristics of the criminal and what makes them tick…
Want more info?
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Forensic Pathologist
Urgh! Dead people. If that’s the way you’d react if you saw a corpse then maybe a career as a Forensic Pathologist isn’t for you! However, if you’re good at biology, think you have the temperament for examining corpses (inside and out) you could play a vital role in crime-busting by becoming a pathologist.
Want more info?
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Solicitor / Barrister
If you can’t choose between studying law or science, don’t worry. You can combine your interest in both by becoming a solicitor or barrister. A big part of your job will be dealing with cases that rely on forensic evidence. If you understand the processes that went into getting that evidence then you’ll be a step ahead of the rest.
Want more info?
www.college-of-law.co.uk
Mechanical and forensic engineer
Sometimes a forensic engineer or technician is called in to give their expert opinion on mechanical matters. For example, if a lift crashes and people are killed or injured, the inquest will involve an examination of what caused the cables to snap… This expert technical opinion can be called on in cases of litigation or dispute, ranging from machinery failure to personal injury.
Want more info?
www.forensic-science-society.org.uk
Forensic Clinical Psychologist
Forensic Clinical Psychologist might work as part of community based health and social care team, working with adults who have learning disabilities. Unlike a Forensic Psychologist, you’d be working with offenders that are in a hospital and have already been arrested.
Want more info?
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
... or check out our interview with Forensic Clinical Psychologist : Dr Isabel Clare
Forensic dentist
Everyone has a unique set of choppers – and forensic dentists are able to tell a lot about them… These experts are called in to examine the teeth of corpses for identification purposes. They are also asked to examine and make casts of human bite marks in foods - sometimes in people - to match the bite with the biter…
Want more info? www.uwcm.ac.uk.study
... or check out our interview with Forensic Dentist: Professor David Whittaker
Assistant Forensic Scientist
You don’t need to have a degree to become an Assistant Forensic Scientist, you just need a good A-level in science. This job involves working with forensic scientists usually on criminal cases, but you should be able to work in any area depending what your interest is.
Want more info? www.forensic.gov.uk
Forensic Document Examiner
More of a pencil and paper person than all this blood and gore? This could be the job for you! Forensic document examiners look at all the papers involved in a crime – comparing handwritings, typewriting and inks from particular photocopiers or printers.
Want more info?
www.forensic-documents.com
Science Teacher
If you do a degree in forensic science you could use the skills you learnt to become a Science Teacher. You’ll have to be a good communicator and enjoy working with people and of course be good at writing on a whiteboard! Just think you could inspire and influence the next generation…
Want more info?
www.canteach.gov.uk
Crime Writer
Maybe you don’t want to be a hands-on scientist at all – but have a great imagination and a flair for writing…? If so, you could follow in the footsteps of many great crime writers whose characters use forensics to solve crimes. You could create the next Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot – but bring the investigations right up to date with your authentic scientific descriptions of the expert analyses that help to solve the crime…!
Want more info?www.absw.org.uk
... or check out our interview with Michael Jecks: Crime Writer