Question: you said when you was at school you wanted to be a forensic scientist when you grew up, why did that change?how come you never went on to become one? I am quite interested in becoming one myself.
Forensics is a fascinating subject and I know several people that have been, or currently are, a Forensic scientist and they all say it is an amazing job, but I suppose the main reason that I didn’t become a Forensic scientist is simply that my personal interests changed over time and I ended up following a different career path!
Although my overall aim was to become a Forensic scientist, I also had a strong interest in Microbiology (the study of small things, such as bacteria and viruses) and so, after I’d finished school, I chose to study a degree subject (BSc in Molecular Biology at the University of Sheffield) that covered lots of Microbiology, but also lots of Genetics (the theory behind the part of Forensics I was interested in most!). During my degree, I had to do a laboratory research project and I enjoyed so much it made me reconsider my career choice and start looking for jobs in research, but, after a while of not getting a job in research, my mind went back to Forensics and I started a Forensics course (MSc.) at the University of Huddersfield. During this course, I had to do another laboratory research project, which, again, I enjoyed so much I got converted back to research! I managed to get a PhD (a research degree) with the same supervisor at the University of Huddersfield and, having passed that earlier this year, I am now a researcher at the University of Birmingham!
ok thank you this helps me a lot, i have always took nan interest in the forensic careers, i would mainly like to become part of the crime scene investigation. you took a forensic course at the university of huddersfield, was the course interesting and which part of forensic science did you study? you also said you know a few people that have become a forensic scientist, do they enjoy their job? i know that becoming a forensic scientist requires a lot of hard work and is extremely hard to get the job, and i was also told i would have more of a chance of moving abroad and going for the job over there (most likely canada) but i was wondering how much of a chance i would have getting the job over here?
The course I took at the University of Huddersfield was a one-year post-graduate course (after my first degree) in Forensic and Analytical Science. The course was definitely interesting and I did 2 really good Forensics modules (‘Forensic science and the Law’ and ‘Forensic Biology’ (DNA, blood spatter patterns etc.)), but, the majority of rest of the course was very Chemistry-based (due to the fact that there was only 1 Forensics lecturer!). Overall, the course was interesting, but quite difficult having come from a background in Biology! Since then though, a number of new staff members have joined the Forensics department and the University of Huddersfield now offers modules in Forensic Entomology (studying insects at a crime scene etc.), Forensic Anthropology (studying skeletons etc.) and Forensic Toxicology (studying drugs, poisons etc.), so I’m sure the courses will be much more focused on these topics rather than the Chemistry behind Forensics!
Forensics does require a lot of hard work, but it is a very stable (there’s always going to be work as there’s always going to be crime!) and rewarding career! It is definitely a tough field to get a job in as there are so many people all applying for the same jobs, but that is the case for most branches of science!!!
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soph17 commented on :
ok thank you this helps me a lot, i have always took nan interest in the forensic careers, i would mainly like to become part of the crime scene investigation. you took a forensic course at the university of huddersfield, was the course interesting and which part of forensic science did you study? you also said you know a few people that have become a forensic scientist, do they enjoy their job? i know that becoming a forensic scientist requires a lot of hard work and is extremely hard to get the job, and i was also told i would have more of a chance of moving abroad and going for the job over there (most likely canada) but i was wondering how much of a chance i would have getting the job over here?
once again thank you, i really appreciate it!
Daniel commented on :
Hi soph,
The course I took at the University of Huddersfield was a one-year post-graduate course (after my first degree) in Forensic and Analytical Science. The course was definitely interesting and I did 2 really good Forensics modules (‘Forensic science and the Law’ and ‘Forensic Biology’ (DNA, blood spatter patterns etc.)), but, the majority of rest of the course was very Chemistry-based (due to the fact that there was only 1 Forensics lecturer!). Overall, the course was interesting, but quite difficult having come from a background in Biology! Since then though, a number of new staff members have joined the Forensics department and the University of Huddersfield now offers modules in Forensic Entomology (studying insects at a crime scene etc.), Forensic Anthropology (studying skeletons etc.) and Forensic Toxicology (studying drugs, poisons etc.), so I’m sure the courses will be much more focused on these topics rather than the Chemistry behind Forensics!
If crime scene investigation is what you want to do then I would recommend you looked into the Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation course at the University of Central Lancashire (http://www.uclan.ac.uk/courses/bsc_hons_forensic_science_criminal_investigation.php) and the Crime Scene Science course at Teeside University (http://www.tees.ac.uk/undergraduate_courses/Crime_Scene_&_Forensic_Science/BSc_(Hons)_Crime_Scene_Science.cfm), but I’d also check out some of the other courses on the list I sent you above^^^.
Forensics does require a lot of hard work, but it is a very stable (there’s always going to be work as there’s always going to be crime!) and rewarding career! It is definitely a tough field to get a job in as there are so many people all applying for the same jobs, but that is the case for most branches of science!!!
Best of luck for the future!
Dan