Career In Forensic Science

An era of investigating with the advancement of science.

We all have must come across a famous phrase in English “science boon or bane” at least once during our education. With the alarming growth of the population, it is seen that the graph of the crime is showing its slope in direct proportion and also due to advancement in the science and technology the way of doing both, the crime and investigation has now been changed drastically.

Nowadays, the criminals have become more professional in their work, so as to check them, we also need professional experts in this field. This is where forensics come into the role.

Forensic science is the combination of two different Latin words viz. forensic and science. The former, forensic relates to a discussion of examination performed in public because trials in the ancient world were typically held in public. It carries a strong judicial connotation. The second, of course, is science, which is derived from the Greek word for knowledge and is today closely tied with the scientific methods.

Some specialization in forensic science are: –

Forensic Psychology
Forensic Pathology
Forensic Odontology
Forensic Toxicology
Digital Forensics
Criminology
Dactyloscopists

The scope of the Forensic Science: –

The forensic science is nowadays becoming a vast field, it not only helps in investigating the crime but also has many implications such as medical science, education, research & methodologies etc.

Is it a good career for me?

Career related decision should never be taken impulsively, rather a thorough analysis of various pros and cons of it should be done to avoid problems. Job profile, nature of the job, inherent risk, comparative advantages, future growth etc. should be taken into account while analyzing. Forensic science requires handling lots of pressure from various sides e.g. police, judiciary, administration etc. A forensic scientist may spend a lot of time in investigating and be ready for scrutinizing the evidence found at the crime scene anytime.

Average Cost: –

A specialization course in forensic science in India requires around 2 to 3 lakhs, however, this fee may vary depending upon the rating of the college. Forensic science courses in central universities are offered at low prices.

Various merit-based scholarships or discount on fees are offered to outstanding students studying forensic science. Besides, there is a fellowship program offered to the forensic science students sponsored by the Bureau of Police Research and Development and lasts for three years. The eligibility criteria for the fellowship is that candidates should either have a 1^st or 2^nd class Master’s degree in Science or should have passed the UGC conducted CSIR examination.

Job Prospectus: –

Most of the job for forensic science experts are in the government sector and particularly in various law enforcement agencies such as police, the legal system, and the investigating agencies of central and state government.

Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) etc. hire many trained forensic scientists. Some private sector agencies also offer jobs to those who have the qualification in forensic science. Another career in the field of forensic science is teaching in institutes.

With significant growth in crime rate, the role of forensic scientist has increased exponentially and India is facing an acute shortage of forensic scientist who can help courts in deciding criminal cases. There is a demand of forensic scientist and lack of skilled professionals signifies that there is a lot of potential for youngsters.

Getting an internship helps in securing oneself a job as most of the organizations prefers someone who has practical exposure in forensic science. There will be a lot of learning during the internship. Working as trainee forensic scientist or forensic laboratory technicians could be a good start.

Top Institute for the study of Forensic Science in India: –

Amity University
Bundelkhand University
University of Lucknow
University of Delhi
Osmania University, Hyderabad
Hari Singh Gaur Vishwa Vidyalaya, Sagar, MP
Madras University
LNJP (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash) National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, Delhi
Gujrat University
Anna University, Chennai
Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad
Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh
Central Forensic Laboratory, Kolkata

SOURCES:
https://www.internationalstudent.com/study-criminal-and-forensic-science/what-is-forensic-science/
http://www.jagranjosh.com/careers/forensic-science-1286624513-1