CLPEX Chat Board

Hi everyone,

I am currently an undergraduate at The College of New Jersey majoring in Forensic Chemistry with a minor in Criminology and Justice Studies. I'm really trying to get an internship opportunity this upcoming summer 2007 in a subfield of forensic science. I have searched extensively for one, with little to no luck. It seems although I'm more than willing to relocate and pay my expenses, programs out west are reluctant to offer me an internship. I have experience working under the Medical Examiner of Mercer County (so I've seen autopsies) and I also have a 3.95 gpa. I feel as though I have the credentials now for the hard part, locating an internship.

Any help, advice, and/or people to contact would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm open to any aspect of forensic science.

Thanks again!
speer3@tcnj.edu

Internships are seriously lacking in the field of forensic science... even unpaid internships. Law enforcement agencies are critically under-funded, and therefore are often under-staffed and over-worked. For the most part, the time it takes to mentor someone in the field could only further the backlogs that plague many departments.

Therefore, I would HIGHLY recommend applying for an entry-level, paid position in law enforcement. You will (hopefully) get the training and real-world experience you need to succeed in the field, develop contacts, and be able to attend trainings and conferences that are so critical to your forensic education. Check out the association "employment" links; or links from city, county, state and federal websites. There are frequently entry-level employment opportunities in Criminalistics (if you have a sufficient scientific background) or as a Crime Scene Technician.

Good luck to you!!!

As soon as I send this reply, I stumbled upon the following internship for Bode... forgot to mention that private labs will often hire interns!!:

DNA LAB INTERN

(Posted 11/28/06)
Bode Technology is seeking applicants for the position of DNA Lab Intern. This position will assist analysts in various administrative tasks (job duties include data entry, the creation of case files for a shipment and numbering/scanning case files upon their completion); maintain the gel laboratory for the analysts working on the Hitachi platform (job duties include maintaining the schedule of gels that are run during the week, pouring gels to be used by the analysts and cleaning gel plates to be used throughout the week); assist analysts in the laboratory with beginning a shipment of cases (job duties include taking inventory of the cases, helping the analyst label and organize the samples and taking notes for the analyst in charge of cutting the evidence); take daily inventory of the supplies within the laboratories and stock supplies when necessary; and provide general laboratory assistance when needed (general maintenance of the laboratory). Send resumes to HR@bodetech.com. No phone calls, please.

CONTACT:
The Bode Technology Group
10430 Furnace Road, Suite 107
Lorton, VA 20079
www.bodetech.com

Thanks so much! I will definitely follow through on that!

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension utilize interns extensively throughout the year. You can find out more information by going to the website and navigating to Internship Opportunities in the Laboratory.

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/bca/bca.html