MSc Forensic Science vs. Laboratory work experience

I'm a recent BSc Chemistry graduate who wants to go into Forensic Science- it was the main reason why I chose to do a chemistry degree rather than a forensic science one. I particularly like the toxicology and drug analysis element and I wanted some advice.

I've been told by career advisors that forensic science is a competitive field (probably because of CSI and similar TV shows) and that a masters' would put you at an advantage. However I was wondering if it's better to gain some laboratory experience for a couple of years because I have none apart from the labs I did in my course then undertake a masters' or will doing the masters' in 2021 with little experience give me a better chance of getting into this field? Most of the jobs I've been looking at in toxicology/forensic science require a few years of lab experience and a scientific degree (no indication if undergrad or postgrad preferred).

To sum it up: Will experience in this case help me get into the field or is it better to pursue a masters' first?
Edited to say: I have experience but it's not in any way relevant to forensic science.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 1

LuigiMario

19

You can get in early somewhere with "just" a BSc in Alchemy, you've definitely chose the best route, congrats.
I'd say that both MSc and lab-work would help, either/or or both..... but actual work in a lab will always help much more than just a qualification

anyway, randomly drifting away, wildly from your sensible questions, and hoping to attract more attention; I have (Chemist) friends who have left the UK, for forensic or similar science based jobs - bit of a shock, but it's easy to triple your 'expected' local salary

Whilst Scotland actually has a Forensic Science service, rest of UK (probably) has something akin to "the cheapest bidder' who have even allegedly made-stuff-up. https://www.spa.police.uk/work-with-us/how-to-apply/ (register there & see how it goes), maybe their application form only has space for postgrad quals? I always apply to these 'generic applications' as CERN actually kept me on their 'maybe' list for 2 years, then phoned me up when they had a suitable job. I did it later with my curent research centre job, I applied, then almost forgot about it, again for a year or so.

Forensics AUS seems to have state by state services, you'd have to do more searches there
whilst NZ have a bit of career guidance here https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/science/science/forensic-scientist/

also, a bit away from truly competitive forensics, in a fortnight I think we'll probably still be a member of EMBL, they do sponsor MSc, sometimes from a chem background. in fact from any STEM background (UK's EMBL is Hinxton, Cambridgeshire)
https://www.embl.org/jobs/#group=data-group-1
Jobs in "light" general https://elmi.embl.org/category/jobs/
contacts in "imaging" https://elmi.embl.org/home/elmi-members/elmi-members-in-the-united-kingdom/
some fellowships related to EMBL, https://www.embl.org/training/technology-developers-programme/arise/
Total of 350 internships here? https://www.embl.de/training/undergraduates/index.html

Reply 2

lauryn7099

OP

10

Original post by LuigiMario

You can get in early somewhere with "just" a BSc in Alchemy, you've definitely chose the best route, congrats.
I'd say that both MSc and lab-work would help, either/or or both..... but actual work in a lab will always help much more than just a qualification

anyway, randomly drifting away, wildly from your sensible questions, and hoping to attract more attention; I have (Chemist) friends who have left the UK, for forensic or similar science based jobs - bit of a shock, but it's easy to triple your 'expected' local salary

Whilst Scotland actually has a Forensic Science service, rest of UK (probably) has something akin to "the cheapest bidder' who have even allegedly made-stuff-up. https://www.spa.police.uk/work-with-us/how-to-apply/ (register there & see how it goes), maybe their application form only has space for postgrad quals? I always apply to these 'generic applications' as CERN actually kept me on their 'maybe' list for 2 years, then phoned me up when they had a suitable job. I did it later with my curent research centre job, I applied, then almost forgot about it, again for a year or so.

Forensics AUS seems to have state by state services, you'd have to do more searches there
whilst NZ have a bit of career guidance here https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/science/science/forensic-scientist/

also, a bit away from truly competitive forensics, in a fortnight I think we'll probably still be a member of EMBL, they do sponsor MSc, sometimes from a chem background. in fact from any STEM background (UK's EMBL is Hinxton, Cambridgeshire)
https://www.embl.org/jobs/#group=data-group-1
Jobs in "light" general https://elmi.embl.org/category/jobs/
contacts in "imaging" https://elmi.embl.org/home/elmi-members/elmi-members-in-the-united-kingdom/
some fellowships related to EMBL, https://www.embl.org/training/technology-developers-programme/arise/
Total of 350 internships here? https://www.embl.de/training/undergraduates/index.html

Wow, thanks so much for the information, especially those links since I had mainly been looking at forensic science job openings in the UK- I really appreciate it :smile:

Reply 3

slll

Original post by LuigiMario

You can get in early somewhere with "just" a BSc in Alchemy, you've definitely chose the best route, congrats.
I'd say that both MSc and lab-work would help, either/or or both..... but actual work in a lab will always help much more than just a qualification

anyway, randomly drifting away, wildly from your sensible questions, and hoping to attract more attention; I have (Chemist) friends who have left the UK, for forensic or similar science based jobs - bit of a shock, but it's easy to triple your 'expected' local salary

Whilst Scotland actually has a Forensic Science service, rest of UK (probably) has something akin to "the cheapest bidder' who have even allegedly made-stuff-up. https://www.spa.police.uk/work-with-us/how-to-apply/ (register there & see how it goes), maybe their application form only has space for postgrad quals? I always apply to these 'generic applications' as CERN actually kept me on their 'maybe' list for 2 years, then phoned me up when they had a suitable job. I did it later with my curent research centre job, I applied, then almost forgot about it, again for a year or so.

Forensics AUS seems to have state by state services, you'd have to do more searches there
whilst NZ have a bit of career guidance here https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/science/science/forensic-scientist/

also, a bit away from truly competitive forensics, in a fortnight I think we'll probably still be a member of EMBL, they do sponsor MSc, sometimes from a chem background. in fact from any STEM background (UK's EMBL is Hinxton, Cambridgeshire)
https://www.embl.org/jobs/#group=data-group-1
Jobs in "light" general https://elmi.embl.org/category/jobs/
contacts in "imaging" https://elmi.embl.org/home/elmi-members/elmi-members-in-the-united-kingdom/
some fellowships related to EMBL, https://www.embl.org/training/technology-developers-programme/arise/
Total of 350 internships here? https://www.embl.de/training/undergraduates/index.html

Hi, Im studying bachelor of psychology. can i still study Masters in forensic science and get jobs? Most I have heard that there's a need for sciences qualification in your studies but i have only taken biology in my pre-university.

MSc Forensic Science vs. Laboratory work experience

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