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Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter - September 2001 A
Career in Forensic Science Research |
| My Story I received the first inklings that my future career lay in forensic science when I was in junior high school. One of the many "fill in the bubble" standardized tests we took at that time was an aptitude test designed to indicate what career paths would be most suitable for us based on our interests and abilities. In that test I expressed an interest in becoming a law enforcement officer, showed high aptitude for math and science, as well as stated an intention to pursue advanced education. That particular combination of inputs only confused the test, however, as "forensic scientist" was not in its particular lexicon. However, the results did give me the idea that somewhere out there was a job that might mix those elements. Upon reaching high school, I knew that physical science was an area I enjoyed and my senior year I had the opportunity to explore forensic science through an independent study. While quite simple by necessity, I did gain experience and interest in chemical analysis and its application to problems of legal importance. As an undergraduate at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, I decided to become a chemistry major. Fortunately, opportunities for research projects abounded in my department and I was able to pursue my interests through projects involving explosives and drugs as well as more fundamental chemical research. Most importantly during this period, I was fortunate enough to be selected as an Honors Intern at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. As a result, during the summer following my junior year I was exposed to the inner workings of the FBI Laboratory Division and assisted with an ongoing research project in fiber evidence. That experience was a decisive one for me, confirming that forensic science was the path I wanted to take above all others. Following graduation I was faced with the difficult decision of either continuing my education or entering the work world. After some agonizing, the desire to enhance my professional qualifications and deepen my understanding of chemistry and forensic science won out over the rather intimidating idea of spending several more years in school. That decision led me to graduate school at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, where I chose to study both analytical chemistry and forensic science in two separate degree programs. While hardly the easiest path, pursuing both avenues enabled me to gain an immense amount of practical experience in both fields and to see how each could compliment the other. My research into soils, explosives, and petroleum products also brought me into contact with many people in chemistry and forensic science. In true networking fashion, one of those professional relationships led to my current position as a post-doctoral associate sponsored by the National Research Council undertaking forensic science research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD. Now, having completed my scaling of the "academic mountain," I am grateful and excited to be applying my knowledge and skills to research in hair comparisons at NIST. The Benefits and Challenges of Research As I am by definition a young forensic scientist, my experience is limited. However, my time as a researcher in academic and now governmental contexts has shown me a number of "pros" and "cons" to a research career in forensic science. To begin positively, research automatically places your thinking on the cutting edge of science and technology. It is a special position, in that you are given the opportunity to observe the current state of the art, envision its future possibilities, and then strive towards one or more of those generally exciting developments. As a result, research is rarely routine. The nature of your work is constantly changing as you generate or become aware of new data. Furthermore, and perhaps most exciting, you may have a large impact on your field by changing its basic practices or introducing new, improved ideas before anyone else. Research serves a critical role in this respect. For any technical area, and forensic science in particular, a vigorous and well-executed research and development effort helps ensure the future integrity of the practice. However, research can also be frustrating and difficult. For example, the saying "If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be research" is very apt. You are often, even permanently, in a state of "not knowing." This applies to the many times when an experiment does not work, when you don't know the best way to proceed, or the fact that your questions will always outnumber your answers. While mastering these inner mental battles of research is important, one must always remember that all research happens in the context of the real world. This is especially true in the forensic sciences where one of the biggest mistakes one can make is to work on projects that are too esoteric or lack practical application. The worst consequence of this is that your research will largely be ignored and have little to no impact. Another necessary evil of conducting successful research is obtaining adequate funding. While some institutions have internal funds that can be dedicated to research, these funds are rare and often small in quantity. Hence, generating external research funds is necessary and you must always be prepared to justify your work to your current sponsors while at the same time soliciting future funding. Throughout this and other processes of research, you are called upon to communicate your results orally and through writing. While this may not be difficult, well-developed communication skills are critical. Finally, and of importance to a young scientist, full time research positions in the forensic sciences are rare. However, opportunities do exist, largely centered in academic and government labs that do not have a law enforcement focus. The time and monetary demands of full time casework often make research impossible in law enforcement agencies. Conversely, case work and court testimony will likely be a minor part of a research career. Advice Lest readers become overly discouraged at the rather long list of challenges in a research career, I can share some pieces of advice that have helped me to mitigate these factors. First and foremost, one must be as knowledgeable as possible in his/her chosen field. Be voracious about gathering information and learning. When you are well trained you have more to draw upon when selecting and pursuing research projects. Do not be afraid to think independently and ask "What if?". Envisioning the future is often a great means of stumbling on good research ideas. When the difficult moments of research arrive (and they will), patience, logic, and good problem solving skills will serve you well. With time, you will become more comfortable with ambiguity and not knowing all the answers. As the strict outline form of this writing suggests, I also value good organizational skills as a means to structure ideas, although many highly successful researchers are not as compulsive in this respect. I have also found that all secrets to success are not solely based on the individual. For example, it is crucial to develop as many productive and informative relationships as you can with other researchers. Modern scientific research is interdisciplinary and the perspectives of others can be a vast resource. It is also critical to be in close contact with practicing forensic scientists so as to avoid drifting far from the needs and directions of the field. Take heed of the great advice available through these interactions but do not let naysayers rain on your parade. Every potential research area has difficulties that must be overcome, and good judgment can sort through which projects are worth pursuing despite these obstacles. Research, particularly in an exciting area such as forensic science, can be highly rewarding. It is a path I am seriously considering pursuing for the rest of my career as the challenges it presents and the potential to make a difference are both high. Hopefully the perspectives I have gained so far will continue to serve me well. I also hope that these insights may help other young forensic scientists as they consider their future within our field. |
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© 2001 Young Forensic Scientists Forum / American Academy of Forensic Sciences |