Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Do forensic scientist have to specialize into one field like serology, latent print, toxicology, etc. or can they be multidisciplinary in the sense that one day they work on entomology another they do blood spatter and so on?

Asked by Chicken Jr. over 8 years ago

see question above.

754 Votes

Is there a way to tell the person's weight from their skeleton? I know you can tell age, race, old injuries and so much more. Would you be able to tell that the bones belonged to a 400lb man?

Asked by Desiré almost 9 years ago

That's an excellent question but you need an anthropologist to answer it. I'm afraid I don't know. Sorry!

754 Votes

So you wanna be a Forensic Scientist?

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!

Can I interview you on this for a school project?

Asked by Samantha over 8 years ago

Sure, email me at lisa-black@live.com.

754 Votes

- What is trace evidence? Are fingerprints considered trace evidence?
- How is evidence collected and documented?
- What is some frequently used equipment in the lab/ what are they used to look for?

Asked by AP about 8 years ago

I'm afraid those questions are much to broad for me to summarize here. See if your library has copies of Richard Saferstein's Forensic Science Handbooks or his smaller volumes on forensics.

753 Votes

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How do the forensic team transport the body without destroying any crucial evidence?

Asked by coraline medow about 8 years ago

Inside a fresh body bag that's zipped up.

752 Votes

Hi I have a job interview tomorrow. Can you tell me the difference about criminal justice DNA and crime Scene DNA? And also what would you do if two samples where switched or contaminated in the lab? And what types of questions came up in interview?

Asked by Jen over 8 years ago

I don't know what you mean by that--DNA is DNA. Samples being switched is one situation, and contaminated is another. Obviously the situation would have to be remedied and the samples re-analyzed. Questions will probably be a combination of general interview questions such as 'what are your strengths' and questions about your specific training and experience in forensic topics. Good luck!



752 Votes

So I eventually want to enter into being a forensics analysist, but I've encountered a problem. I recently got a medical marijuana card for a medical problem. And I am not a frequent user. Can I basically forget about being an forensics analysist.

Asked by Carisma over 8 years ago

I don't see why as that would be perfectly legal.

751 Votes

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