Forensic Science Major: ‘I Am Excited to Expand My Knowledge of Laboratory Skills’

I believe the internship I am working in is a great fit for my future. Throughout this internship, I will be cross-trained in the different sections of the New Jersey Union County Crime Lab. The Forensic Laboratory is made up of two different sections, the Controlled Substances Unit and the Biology Unit.

This laboratory has a special accreditation that ensures confidence in laboratory procedures with proficiency testing. The coworkers at the facility are members of forensic science associations such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

By interning with this facility, I will learn specific instrumentation, procedures, and communication tools used in an everyday forensic laboratory. Throughout this internship, I hope to learn how to run samples on the special instrumentation, such as gas chromatography. I am excited to expand my knowledge of laboratory skills in a setting outside of my lab courses.

‘Experience that reflects our needs and goals’

The first week was exciting to learn all the different aspects of the day. However, I was not fully prepared for the commute back and forth from work as it is an hour and fifteen minutes each way. The first week consisted of being in both the chemistry and biology labs. I was also able to go to court and watch one of the biology analysts testify on DNA evidence. I was also able to learn how the laboratory tracks evidence by helping do inventory in the vault.

I learned about this internship position by looking online at the different forensic facilities in my state. I have previously lived in Union County, so I was aware of the prosecutor’s office. The job site is primarily quiet, though communication among the analysts is very apparent. I have noticed when certain analysts are in the lab alone, they play music or podcasts.

Communication within this lab is very important. In each step of different procedures analysts collaborate on what they think would work best. Everyone is very friendly and happy to teach us why and how certain exams are performed on certain types of evidence.

I would enjoy working at a laboratory facility such as this one because of the communication and adaptability among the scientists. Also, the managers are very insistent on making sure we get experience that reflects our needs and goals. I am excited to learn more about the laboratory’s procedures and the different experiences I will be presented throughout this summer.

Zara Armental ’24 is a forensic science major at the University of New Haven who is completing an internship as part of the University’s Bergami Summer Internship program.