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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

989 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on July 21, 2022

Best Rated

Did you ever puke or feel funny on a certain case?

Asked by MarieAbend almost 8 years ago

I got a little queasy at my very first autopsy, but since then, no.

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.

I was accused of rape by a diabolical tenant and her daughter! I actually sprayed w d40 and it backsplashed right in my face! I was blwng my nose, wiping sweat frm my head & spit in tissue. Cld they wipe Tht on them or in them and claim rape?

Asked by Pes almost 8 years ago

No, because those fluids would not contain acid phosphatase.

What type of equipment do you operate? How did you learn to operate the equipment?

Asked by Violet over 8 years ago

Over the years I've operated a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, alternate light sources, a photography setup, and various software programs. Venders or other employees train me to use them.

As a forensic scientist, do you use the diameter of blood splatters as clues to how the crime happened?

Asked by Rylee about 8 years ago

Yes, the arcsin of the width divided by the length of the stain will give you the angle of impact at which the blood struck the surface (usually a wall). The direction of the stains can be traced back to a point of convergence and from there the angles can be traced back to a distance from the wall, giving you the approximate point in space where the blow was struck.

Would it be better to have a bachelors degree in biology? Or a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice focused on forensics?

Asked by Sabrina about 8 years ago

That depends on what job you're applying for--does it entail more lab work or more scene work? The only way to know for sure is call the places you might want to work and ask, or at least check out job postings online.

I played a video game recently that had two murderers - separate murders - freeze their respective victims' bodies to throw off the time of death. Does that actually work? If so, how long does it take to unfreeze?

Asked by R-Mod almost 8 years ago

Changing the ambient temperature either up or down and then changing it back will affect a pathologist's estimate of time of death because they usually take that into consideration. I couldn't guess how long it would take it to unfreeze, but at room temperature I would think several hours at a minimum.