Forensic science technicians collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. Perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue to determine significance to investigation. May testify as expert witnesses on evidence or crime laboratory techniques. May serve as specialists in areas of expertise, such as ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, or biochemistry.
Keep records and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
Collect evidence from crime scenes, storing it in conditions that preserve its integrity.
Testify in court about investigative or analytical methods or findings.
Use photographic or video equipment to document evidence or crime scenes.
Visit morgues, examine scenes of crimes, or contact other sources to obtain evidence or information to be used in investigations.
Reconstruct crime scenes to determine relationships among pieces of evidence.
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment and apparatus.
Confer with ballistics, fingerprinting, handwriting, documents, electronics, medical, chemical, or metallurgical experts concerning evidence and its interpretation.
Prepare solutions, reagents, or sample formulations needed for laboratory work.
Train new technicians or other personnel on forensic science techniques.
Use chemicals or other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
Interpret laboratory findings or test results to identify and classify substances, materials, or other evidence collected at crime scenes.
Collect impressions of dust from surfaces to obtain and identify fingerprints.
Review forensic analysts' reports for technical merit.
Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
Examine physical evidence, such as hair, fiber, wood, or soil residues to obtain information about its source and composition.
Examine firearms to determine mechanical condition and legal status, performing restoration work on damaged firearms to obtain information, such as serial numbers.
Compare objects, such as tools, with impression marks to determine whether a specific object is responsible for a specific mark.
Analyze gunshot residue and bullet paths to determine how shootings occurred.
Identify and quantify drugs or poisons found in biological fluids or tissues, in foods, or at crime scenes.
Determine types of bullets and specific weapons used in shootings.
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 74% responded "Extremely important".
Telephone — 69% responded "Every day".
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 62% responded "Every day".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 57% responded "A lot of freedom".
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 55% responded "A lot of freedom".
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 59% responded "Very important results".
Frequency of Decision Making — 71% responded "Every day".
Deal With External Customers — 53% responded "Very important".
Consequence of Error — 58% responded "Extremely serious".
Work With Work Group or Team — 52% responded "Very important".
Contact With Others — 39% responded "Contact with others most of the time".
Exposed to Contaminants — 50% responded "Every day".
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions — 46% responded "Every day".
Physical Proximity — 47% responded "Moderately close (at arm's length)".
Time Pressure — 43% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".
Exposed to Disease or Infections — 40% responded "Every day".
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 40% responded "Every day".
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 49% responded "Very important".
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 33% responded "High responsibility".
Spend Time Sitting — 50% responded "About half the time".
Coordinate or Lead Others — 44% responded "Important".
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 33% responded "More than half the time".
Letters and Memos — 47% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".
Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 44% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Perceptual Speed
The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Visual Color Discrimination
The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Speed of Closure
The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Fluency of Ideas
The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Originality
The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
