Before Sheila Shaw was hired by the Pennsylvania State Police, she worked as a chemist with the Department of Environmental Protection and for 25 years with a private laboratory.
“I love science and enjoy diagnosing and solving problems. At the time, I was looking for a career change and based on my chemistry background and training, I thought the Forensic Scientist Trainee position would be an excellent fit.”
Forensic Scientist Trainees participate in structured training and practical casework designed to develop proficiency in performing chemical, physical and biological analysis and comparison of evidence gathered and submitted by law enforcement authorities.
Upon completion of a one-year period as a trainee, employees are promoted to Forensic Scientist 1 or Forensic DNA Scientist 1.
Sheila now works in a State Police lab, where she conducts tests on a wide variety of samples associated with investigations and criminal cases.
“I’ve been involved in several laboratory functions such as drug identification, blood alcohol content and beverage alcohol. I’ve also testified as an expert witness at trials and am a member of the clandestine response team which assists in the dismantling, processing and sampling of evidence at a crime scene.”
Trainees receive instruction on the techniques and methods utilized by one of the State Police forensic laboratory’s discipline areas, such as drug identification, serological examinations, trace evidence analysis and chemical and biological analysis of forensic human DNA.
“I feel a strong sense of purpose and that the work I do matters. I enjoy the task-oriented nature of working in a lab and the sense of fulfillment that comes with seeing all that you have accomplished at the end of the day. It’s a great job for individuals with a natural sciences background such as biology and chemistry.”