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

How reliable are drug tests? The ones that turn colors. I seen where a dude had doughnut glaze on the ground and it tested positive (no thats not a joke lol).

Asked by Darren almost 4 years ago

I'm sorry but I've never worked in toxicology, so I've never tested drugs with any kind of test.

Sorry I can't help!

What are the top 10 most fun/ interesting facts about your job?

Asked by Miki23 over 3 years ago

Wow, that’s a tough question! I’m not sure I could come up with ten.

How to identify if s nose was broken from a fall or from a punch

Asked by Doug over 3 years ago

I”m sorry but I have no idea—you’d need a pathologist for that one.

Do you have any suggestions for a research topic in forensic science for a class project?

Asked by HG271 over 3 years ago

Wow, that’s a tough question—I can think of projects and experiments, but research....and what ages? I can ask my coworkers for suggestions.

Do you think if someone had all the training and experience plus is post certified do you think they would have a better or the same chance at getting a job a civilian can get? As well about advancements? I guess it could be like anything else the more the better. Right?

Asked by Terry about 4 years ago

I'm not sure what you mean by post certified?

When you first started interviewing and working in the forensics field, what made you determine if the jobs you were looking at were right for you? I am going through that situation now.

Asked by Jason. B over 3 years ago

Usually job vacancies aren't that plentiful that you can be too choosy. Are all or most of the duties similar to what you want to do? Is the location acceptable to you (local, or someplace you wouldn't mind relocating to)? Is there a good chance you will meet their expectations sufficiently that they will offer you a job? If the answer to all three is yes, then I would suggest you take it. If the answer to only the first two is yes, try anyway.

Best of luck to you!

Hi, I’m writing a novel in which a tape-and-murder victim’s remains are found after ten or twenty years outdoors in rural New England. Could investigators find the perp’s dna at that point?

Asked by Laurel almost 4 years ago

On the victim’s body? Most likely not because after that much time the victim would most likely be skeletal remains only, if buried and certainly if on the surface. If the body was in some kind of container, sealed, it might be completely decomposed, mummified or preserved, depending on circumstances. If the killer’s blood or semen got on some object that was with the body, it could conceivably survive if protected, but it would be very unlikely to yield a usable DNA profile.

Hope that helps!!