FORENSIC SCIENTIST 2

Definition

Under the general supervision of a Forensic Scientist 3, or other supervisory official, in the Department of Law and Public Safety or in the Department of Health, conducts the more difficult and specialized work involved in the chemical analysis of various matter, substances, specimens, and materials submitted to the laboratory by law enforcement agencies and Medical Examiners Offices for identification in connection with criminal investigations and prosecutions; functions as a lead worker, providing guidance to Forensic Scientists 1, Chemists, Laboratory Technicians, or other laboratory personnel; performs related field and laboratory work; does other duties as required.

Examples of work

• Conducts special and complicated chemical tests, examinations, and analyses of evidence, specimens and other materials as required, handles all physical evidence for cases being processed; assists associate scientists in the handling of all other evidence as required.
• Receives, analyzes, and identifies the origin and nature of the substance and materials sent to the laboratory by chemical, physical, and microchemical means.
• Performs complex testing procedures with specialized chemicals, reagents, biochemicals, other liquids and substances to complete the various testing stages on DNA matter and physical evidence, and the related work involved in the laboratory and in the field (crime scenes), in accordance with standardized laboratory protocol and in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Handles the more complex and specialized cases. Complex cases can be defined as any case that requires more than routine standard analysis as determined by the supervisor in the respective discipline.
• Ensures that all cases are processed to include complete chemical, physical, biological, toxicological, and serological analyses on submitted specimens, and finishes each case with a comprehensive report including all determined facts and conclusions as per laboratory protocols.
• Screens evidence for biological fluids and stains and collects samples for further analyses.
• Conducts analysis on blood and body fluids for DNA profiles/typing.
• Provides guidance to Forensic Scientists 1, Chemists, Laboratory Technicians, or other laboratory personnel.
• May function as a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Coordinator, Laboratory Safety Representative/Coordinator, or Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator of a discipline.
• Utilizes computer skills to test, modify, and maintain sophisticated analytical equipment necessary for quantitative and qualitative analyses; and to generate reports, log forms, and research papers, manage files, operate, troubleshoot, and validate laboratory instruments, maintain records of analyses, and facilitate intra-lab communications.
• Operates a DNA Genetic Analyzer and workstation, Fourier Transform infrared detector and diode array ultraviolet spectrophotometer, x-ray diffraction unit, gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, high pressure liquid chromatograph, and other scientific instrumentation in the laboratory, and interprets resulting data.
• Maintains the integrity of court evidence; keeps evidence in an appropriate environment and maintains a running log on all stages of analysis to prevent loss, tampering, theft, or biological or chemical degradation.
• Identifies and analyzes body fluid and tissues; analyzes DNA specimens to determine the source of the contributor's blood, semen, hair roots, teeth, and bones.
• Identifies trace evidence such as paint or fibers through visual, chemical, and microscopic examination, appropriate tests, and instrumentation procedures.
• Examines and classifies potentially explosive and flammable materials and chemicals.
• Analyzes evidence for controlled dangerous substances by weighing evidence, microscopic examination for botanical identification, color tests through application of appropriate reagents, crystal test, and extracting drugs for further testing.
• Provides expertise to agencies at crime scenes regarding the collection and preservation of evidence.
• Stays current in topics in Forensic Science through webinars, available on-site training, literature search, workshops, participation in professional associations, and by attending discipline specific meetings.
• Liaisons with other professionals to contribute and obtain information necessary to identify trends affecting controlled substances and potential controlled substances; keeps informed of new analytical methods of clandestine and legitimate drug manufacturing.
• Conducts physical and chemical tests, measurements, and photographs as required; reproduces these in legible pictures or drawings for the use of the submitting agency; handles all physical evidence for cases being processed.
• Trains other Forensic Scientists, Chemists, Laboratory Technicians, and law enforcement personnel in specialized techniques in their respective discipline within the laboratory by demonstrating skills and abilities, working one-on-one, and closely monitoring during the early training period; reviews notes and results of their work as they progress in training, allowing them more freedom as they gain experience and confidence.
• Develops new analytical procedures, adapting or revising old approaches based on current literature and experimenting on non-case evidence or control samples.
• Coordinates with other staff in ongoing scientific research activities.
• Prepares the standardized chemical reagents regularly used and other reagents of a special nature for special uses.
• Prepares exhibits to be used in official proceedings.
• Ensures that all cases are analyzed and reported in an expeditious and error-free manner; completes analyses of cases and returns them to the vault in a timely manner.
• Takes the lead in the routine work of the laboratory.
• Takes the lead in special projects; conducts independent research relating to forensic matters.
• Performs technical reviews of reports to ensure that the conclusions are reasonable within the constraints of scientific knowledge.
• Ensures that laboratory instruments, equipment, and glassware are in a constant state of cleanliness, good order, and repair.
• Conducts monthly performance checks of instrument or reagent functionality.
• Performs routine inventories and prepares orders to maintain supplies for routine and new methods of analysis.
• Testifies as an expert witness regarding the results of chemical, microchemical, instrumental, and other laboratory examinations and analyses.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of chemical, microchemical, instrumental, and other laboratory examinations and analyses containing findings, results and conclusions; prepares detailed information and reports in a form usable for presentation in court by law enforcement agencies.
• Prepares and presents lectures, seminars, and courses to law enforcement personnel and other groups regarding the proper submission of evidence and other areas related to forensic science.
• Maintains computer and analytical skills necessary for a specified discipline.
• Maintains proper fuel and oil in assigned state transportation and reports any problems.
• Maintains essential records, reports, and files to provide extensive records of operation for quality control purposes.
• Participates in the quality assurance and quality control programs by completing personal and laboratory proficiency tests as assigned, including sectional audits, preparing validation procedures on new instrumentation, maintaining detailed logbooks for standards and calibrations, and witnessing the analyses of colleagues.
• Monitors the workplace environment for hazardous and toxic conditions and the awareness of acceptable limits of exposure or when exposure or conditions are deemed to be hazardous.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize the various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, or Bio-Chemistry. Degrees in related areas of biological or chemical science that contain a minimum of twenty-four (24) science semester hour credits in any combination of Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, or Bio-Chemistry are considered acceptable in meeting the education requirement.

Experience

Two (2) years of experience in performing and independently conducting various types of chemical testing, retesting, analytical examination and analyses of bio-hazardous, organic and inorganic compounds, and other matter conducted in a modern scientific, pharmaceutical, medical, forensic chemistry, or DNA testing laboratory.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the principles, techniques, equipment, and functions of forensic chemistry and their application to specific situations.
• Knowledge of the factors affecting interpretation of scientific data including condition of evidence, environment of crime scene, sample substrate, and interfering substances.
• Knowledge of principles involved in the manufacture of goods and materials for each type of evidence.
• Knowledge of the chemical laboratory standards, protocols, procedures, techniques, equipment, media, reagents, and supplies used to conduct chemical and related microscopic tests, assays, examinations, and analyses.
• Knowledge of toxic chemicals, dangerous biological diseases, and other environmental hazards encountered in evidence handling and in the usage of reagents and of the appropriate health and safety precautions.
• Knowledge of a lab-wide chemical hygiene plan.
• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety, and hazardous material control measures.
• Knowledge of a Bloodborne Pathogen Plan.
• Knowledge of the control measures used to determine risk assessments and risk reductions.
• Knowledge of the methods used to handle, store, transport, and dispose of hazardous materials, and the usage of personal protective equipment and engineering controls.
• Knowledge of emergency laboratory response procedures to determine first responder criteria, determination of hazardous material classes, hazardous materials responders, levels of responder requirements, and first aid measures.
• Knowledge of record keeping requirements and the procedures for notification of interested parties.
• Knowledge of the form and content of laboratory reports of tests, examinations, and analyses.
• Knowledge of computer applications associated with instrumentation procedures, statistical analysis, and review standards.
• Ability to set-up, operate, and troubleshoot new scientific instruments and equipment.
• Ability to follow standard and prescribed procedures when conducting specific tests, examinations, and analyses, in compliance with state and federal regulations and court stipulated guidelines.
• Ability to keep current with literature, scientific developments, and trends of thought in the field of forensic chemistry.
• Ability to take the lead over a group of technical employees engaged in the work activities of a forensic science laboratory or in the field at crime scenes.
• Ability to act as an expert witness in court proceedings and give testimony concerning the results of a laboratory examinations and analyses in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to maintain a chain of custody records providing a comprehensive documented history of evidence review, transfer, and storage.
• Ability to prepare and train staff in the preparation of standard and special reagents.
• Ability to conduct independent research into forensic matters and to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to successfully complete proficiency and/or competency test in the assigned discipline.
• Ability to technically review reports to ensure that the conclusions are reasonable within the constraints of scientific knowledge.
• Ability to operate the ultraviolet spectrophotometer, x-ray diffraction unit, a DNA Genetic Analyzer and workstation, Fourier Transform infrared detector, Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization LC/Ms, Pyrolysis Head space sampler for GC/MS, scanning electron microscope, gas chromatograph, mass spectrometer, data work stations, and other scientific equipment in the laboratory in the analysis of varied types of materials.
• Ability to use digital photographic equipment to photograph evidence to be used in a court of law.
• Ability to understand and interpret the actual components of the instrument to ensure its optimal performance, and specialized software applications and programs unique to its operation for laboratory usage.
• Ability to use statistics to validate instruments and methodologies, and to explain the significance of statistical results.
• Ability to keep current with laws, regulations, and court decisions affecting methods, specimen security, chain of custody, record keeping, court testimony, and employee safety.
• Ability to choose a suitable analytical technique for non-routine samples and in some cases, to refer the submitting agency to other appropriate laboratories when their requests are beyond the scope of the facility.
• Ability to evaluate courtroom testimony, presentation and scientific accuracy; ability to serve as an expert rebuttal witness, when necessary.
• Ability to organize assigned chemical and related laboratory work, analyze problems in the field of forensic chemistry, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to use laboratory equipment and reagents in a manner that avoids unnecessary breakage and waste, and to obtain accurate, reliable results.
• Ability to determine the origin and nature of unknown materials and substances by conducting chemical, physical, and microchemical tests and analyses.
• Ability to conduct the tests and analyses required to identify alkaloids, narcotics, and other drugs, and to conduct tests on toxicological specimens to determine the ingestion of poisonous dosages and/or lethal volumes.
• Ability to prepare legible drawings for use in official proceedings.
• Ability to prepare detailed information and reports in a usable form for presentation in court by police agencies.
• Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports of chemical, instrumental, microchemical, and other laboratory examinations and analyses containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to recognize the health risks and hazards from exposure to bio-hazards, organic and inorganic compounds, usage of agents and reagents, and other chemical and toxic matter.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to maintain computer and analytical skills necessary for a specified discipline.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Applicants who do not possess the required Master's degree, but who possess a Bachelor's degree in one of the four areas of science listed above, or possess a Bachelor's degree that includes a minimum of twenty-four (24) science semester hour credits in any combination of Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, or Bio-Chemistry, may substitute one (1) year of additional experience as indicated.

Possession of a Doctorate degree in Forensic Science, Chemistry, Biology, Bio-Chemistry, or related physical science area of study, may substitute this degree for the two (2) years of experience as indicated above.

Appointees will be required to possess various certifications to perform Forensic DNA testing and analysis, issued by the standards established by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and DNA Databasing Laboratories, and the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) for specifications and accreditation for various scientific sub-disciplines relevant to such testing procedures, practices, and analysis to be considered as admissible in courts of law and other formal proceedings.