Y’all Forensic Friday is back and I could not be more excited for this week’s interviews! The Proper Seal is talking about all things DNA related! This is an area I know very little about so I called up my trusty girl gang so they could give you the 411 on what it’s like to be a DNA analyst.
DNA 101
DNA is the material that carries all of the information about how a living thing will look and function. It can be thought of as a set of blueprints for the cell. No two people, with the exception of identical twins, has the same DNA.
The field of DNA is based mainly on the fact that everyone’s DNA is different and on Locard’s principle of exchange. To put it plainly, when two objects come into contact with one another, a transfer of materials occurs (ie. a fingerprint, DNA, a tool mark impression, etc.).
DNA analysts receive evidence from crime scenes and through lab processes are able to identify DNA found on a piece of evidence that could aid in investigations.
The Day to Day of a DNA Analyst
I can’t even begin to tell you what it’s like to be a DNA examiner because that discipline is not my jam. I am a very sterile, cautious, and thorough practitioner dealing with latent print evidence but you are on another level with that as a DNA analyst. It takes a special kind of human to be a DNA analyst and ima tell you…I’m not that human!
So I asked the girls to give me a brief rundown of what it’s like to be a DNA analyst so that you could have a better understanding of what a typical day might look like. Here’s what they had to say…
DNA analysts examine items of physical evidence, test for biological fluids, develop DNA profiles, and compare DNA profiles developed from evidentiary items to known reference samples. In DNA testing, attempts are made to tie people, places, and objects together.
Analysts can perform DNA testing on current (modern) casework but can also work on cold cases (where cases have not been resolved, which may be due to many factors, one of which is that DNA testing may not have been available yet!) and Innocence Project casework. Many people don’t realize that the bulk of forensic DNA casework deals with sexual assaults, so that is the most common type of casework that I work. This is fairly standard for all DNA testing laboratories.
So you want to be a DNA Analyst
Let me introduce to you my sisters from other misters, Amelia and Alysha. These ladies embody both beauty and brains! Both of these women have worked extremely hard through their education and careers to have the positions they have. Between the two of them, they have experience at the federal, state, and private levels…ok I see you little baddies!
I can always count on them to come through for me when I have a general question, inquiries about proper evidence procedures, or need a forensic article…they just know all the answers!
While I was reading through their interviews, I found their answers to be very informative, down to earth, and perfect for individuals trying to tap into this forensic discipline. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did!
Amelia’s Interview
Title/position: Forensic DNA Examiner and Part-Time Crime Scene Responder
What are your primary job duties?
My primary job is being a forensic DNA scientist and my “second” job is being on-call one week out of the month 24/7 responding to crime scenes. I not only get to respond to the scene, document, and collect items of evidence but I also get to work on them in the laboratory! It sounds like a lot of fun, but when you’ve been up for 36 hours straight on a crime scene sometimes you’re thankful that the following week you have your normal 9-5 to get back to.
How did you get interested in the field of Forensic Science?
I originally wanted to be a doctor, but when I was doing an internship at a local hospital a nurse asked me to assist her while she was inserting an IV into a patient. It made me ill, so I knew I couldn’t stand being a doctor. Luckily at that time I was taking a forensic science lecture/lab class and it just “clicked” – I knew that it was a career I wanted to pursue and that I was passionate about.
With the various disciplines of forensic science, how did you decide on a career working in DNA?
I was interested in the biology/chemistry side of things but had no interest in analyzing drugs (no offense drug chemists!) or being a full-time crime scene responder. I was in research in both my undergraduate and graduate careers and I loved genetics, so DNA was a natural fit.
What excites you most about the discipline of DNA?
I love the science that goes into DNA testing and how far it’s come and where it will go. I’m also really honored to be able to serve the public and potentially assist in resolving questions that have gone unanswered that only the physical evidence can communicate. It’s up to me to communicate that information in an unbiased way to law enforcement and the triers of fact (juries and judges).
What is something about working in the field of DNA that caught you by surprise?
The amount of underwear I consistently work. It’s a really valuable item to work but somedays it feels like I’m up to my elbows in underwear. (But that’s my job!) But on a serious note, something that caught me by surprise just being a forensic scientist was the amount of scrutiny that you’re always under. I always like to think that every day I come to work I have to eat humble pie because your mistakes are always pointed out and you’re always scrutinized for why you did what you did. Constructive criticism helps us grow as individuals and professionally, and it can be hard for newer analysts. (It was hard for me.) But I embrace it the further into my career I get.
What aspects of this field do you find most challenging?
Sometimes when I go to court to testify it can be challenging to successfully educate the Prosecutor, Defense, Judge, and Jury about my testing and what it means. The statistics involved in my comparisons feel very overwhelming to the average person and I’m required to use very specific language to convey it, otherwise it’s mathematically untrue. Sometimes Defense or Prosecution rearrange my conclusions, which can be misleading, and it’s up to us as the forensic scientist to reel them back in and attempt to re-explain it. Going to court can be overwhelming for anyone but when you throw statistics in the mix it can get a little challenging.
In order to succeed as a DNA analyst, what qualities should one possess?
The FBI’s QAS (Quality Assurance Standards) for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories (for the United States) has requirements that each forensic DNA testing laboratory follows in regards to requirements. Minimum educational requirements are: bachelor’s degree in a biology-, chemistry-, or forensic science-related area and shall have successfully completed coursework (graduate or undergraduate level) covering biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, statistics and/or population genetics. In addition to that, agencies require several background checks (financial and criminal), and some agencies require successfully passing a polygraph test. So keep your nose clean and your finances in check! (It matters!) It’s also important to note that even though some states allow recreational marijuana, most (if not all) state and federal jobs do not allow you to have used it within 4 years of applying to a position. So really, to be a forensic scientist you’ll be that nerdy kid petting the dog in the corner of a party sipping on some 7UP because you have to drive your friends home later. But you know what? That’s okay!
Also to be a successful forensic scientist (in general, in my opinion) you’ll need to understand this: forensic science is not glamorous. It is grunt work. You see/read/hear about all of the darkest parts of humanity and it can be mentally straining. It’s important to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Develop good, strong routines like exercising, eating healthy, and talking to a therapist.
This may be an unpopular opinion as well but – forensic scientists don’t solve cases. We provide investigative information for law enforcement to follow-up on. Law enforcement solves crimes. I also really like this quote that I think is important for us as practitioners to remember but also for aspiring forensic scientists to understand: “If the law has made you a witness, remain a man of science. You have no victim to avenge, no guilty or innocent person to convict or save – you must bear testimony within the limits of science.” –Dr. PCH Brouardel (19th Century French Medico-legalist).
Where do you see the future of DNA going?
There are so many exciting things in the future of DNA testing. Everyone is now well aware of genetic genealogy testing, which has aided in helping to solve cold cases that have been unresolved for decades. SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) testing and next generation sequencing technologies are becoming more accessible and affordable, which opens up the doors to new ways to develop DNA profiles where we may not have been able to in the past (such as degraded DNA profiles, which can be difficult to develop fully). There’s just too much cool stuff to talk about, I could keep going.
If you were to give one piece of advice to an aspiring DNA analyst, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and question practices and procedures. Be prepared to eat humble pie, and take feedback as gracefully as you give it. This is a really hard job but it’s a very rewarding job. Not everyone can do our job so do your very best to do your best always. Have integrity. Enjoy your casework (especially when you get a single source DNA profile with great peak heights).
Alysha’s Interview
Title/position: DNA Forensic Scientist II
What are your primary job duties?
Currently, I spend time in three of our units: Database, Casework, and CODIS. Officially though, I am a part of the CODIS Unit at our laboratory. In the CODIS Unit, I handle DNA searches with various other laboratories across the country. I also help out with cold cases and cases that are sent out for forensic genealogy.
When I help out in the Database Unit, I process known DNA standards from suspects and victims of various cases. And lastly, when I help out in the Casework Unit, I process samples collected from crime scenes that are attributable to a particular crime. Typically the types of crimes we see most are sexual assaults, possession cases, breaking and enterings, and fatal cases.
How did you get interested in the field of Forensic Science?
My high school biology teacher and misleading forensic shows (CSI cough cough) that I would watch with my mom as a kid are what sparked my interest in forensics. Science was always a school subject that I was interested in but was never good at. I had to retake a biology course in high school because I kept failing the tests. My teacher was really nice and encouraged me to stick with it. At some point during round two of taking that course things started to click and it quickly grew into a passion of mine. I eventually began to believe that this was something I could do long term as a career and now here I am!
With the various disciplines of forensic science, how did you decide on a career working in DNA?
One thing that I learned quickly in college about the field of forensics is that this field is always evolving and changing. New technologies and methodologies are discovered quicker than we can keep up with. I wanted to make sure that the discipline I ended up in was one that I enjoyed but also one that had a strong foundation. Even though DNA has evolved over the past few decades, it is a discipline rooted in mathematics and is one of the more objective fields in forensics. Because of this, I felt like job security in regards to it not becoming a field of the past, were not a concern of mine.
What excites you most about the discipline of DNA?
I love when we are able to make progress in cold cases. An amazing thing with technology always advancing is that we can go back and apply these new methods to older cases that at one time resulted in no leads. We have specific protocols in place to ensure we save enough evidence for future testing in case new methodologies are able to help these cases.
What is something about working in the field of DNA that caught you by surprise?
How small of a community the forensic field really is. It’s important to not burn any bridges in this field because everyone knows everyone! I have yet to work in a forensic job where I didn’t meet someone that knew someone else that I previously worked with.
What aspects of this field do you find most challenging?
There is a dark and ugly side to forensics which exposes us to the harsh realities of what a person is capable of doing. Police reports detailing gruesome crimes are read and crime scene photos are examined regularly. It’s important to try to detach yourself from what you are reading and working on. However, there’s always THAT case that gets to you. Those in the field know what I mean. There’s a detail about a case or an object at a crime scene that just gets to you. Sometimes it can be challenging to dissociate your conscience from the job. Self-check-ins and finding ways to cope are essential!
In order to succeed as a DNA analyst, what qualities should one possess?
Three words: time management skills. Unfortunately, many forensic labs are underfunded which means that you will most likely become a jack of all trades. Many DNA Analysts are trained in multiple disciplines simply because it is the most efficient way to keep the lab up and running.
For example, in the lab I work in, DNA Analysts are typically cross trained in the Database Unit and Casework Unit and are moved around when appropriate. If a laboratory doesn’t have the funding for small sub-units, then these DNA Analysts will find themselves trained in Quality Control, CODIS, and Validation (just to name a few!) It is exciting to be trained in multiple disciplines and can quite honestly make you a well-rounded scientist. However, this often means it is expected of you to be able to juggle multiple daily tasks and be surprised with last minute duties that need to be performed. Knowing how to prioritize and multi-task in an efficient way without affecting the quality of the work is essential to becoming a forensic scientist.
Where do you see the future of DNA going?
I’d love to answer this question in two parts: a realistic future and a hopeful future.
Realistically, the future of DNA is moving in a few exciting directions. Without getting into the nitty gritty, the three areas that are growing fast in the DNA community are: Rapid DNA, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG). Each of these disciplines is vastly different from each other but have the commonality of potentially aiding the field of DNA greatly. Anyone looking to get into the field of DNA should familiarize themselves with each of these technologies.
For me personally, a hopeful future for the field of DNA would be able to answer this critical question: WHEN was the DNA profile transferred to the object? Currently, DNA is one of the leading forensics disciplines that can answer the question WHO, but as our field advances we do not currently have any means of establishing a time of transfer (which is critical to more cases than you may think). Defense attorneys have quickly become aware that this is a weak point in our field and have been able to use it as a strong defense in many cases. I would love to see the future of this field be able to answer that question.
If you were to give one piece of advice to an aspiring DNA analyst, what would it be?
Make sure that this is a field that you love. Forensic scientists don’t get into this profession for the great hours, the recognition, and certainly not for the money. Many private laboratories work in shifts or even operate seven days a week. If new to the field, you may be put on a shift that isn’t ideal or are even required to work weekends or holidays. The need of aiding investigations is the mission and the mission always comes first. It is easy to become consumed with the work that goes with this field. Because of this, it is important to do self-check-ins and make sure that you make your mental and emotional health a priority.
A misconception that was brought about by misleading forensic TV shows is that forensic scientists get recognition for the work they do. Forensic scientists were portrayed to be these shining stars that solve crimes but in reality, we more or less are kiss ass heroes that work behind the scenes. Getting recognition for one’s work is more of a rare occasion than a common one. It’s important to remind yourself that even if you don’t have someone telling you what you are doing is important, it is! Never doubt the hard work you do because we work in a field that changes lives.
If you are looking for a career that makes the big bucks then you have come to the wrong place! Some private laboratories that work on a contractual basis have decent pay but there is a lack of job security. Most forensic scientists work in state labs which mean funding is typically spread thin. The driving force for most forensic scientists is to make a difference in someone’s life. There’s a passion that most of us in the field share which is to see unbiased justice brought to criminal cases by the use of science. In short, this means that we accept the long or not so great hours, the lack of praise for what we do, and take the smaller paycheck because we love what we do!
I hope you enjoyed this weeks forensic series! I cannot thank Amelia and Alysha enough for taking the time to sit down and answer my questions!
If you have any questions regarding the DNA field or forensic science in general, post them below! If you haven’t already, check out past forensic Friday posts about what it’s like to be a latent print examiner or a firearms examiner.
