I'm writing today about my recent experiences after graduating from the University of Arizona last May with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and MCB. During my undergraduate career, I worked with Dr. Michael Wells, mainly doing research in late trypsin regulation in the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. I also did a summer internship at the National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, performing research on Niemann-Pick Type C disease. First off, here is an unabashed plug for early research opportunities. Getting research experience as an undergraduate is extremely educational and beneficial. Practical lab experience is one of the best teachers and motivators. UBRP provides a wealth of research opportunities, those that undergraduates in many other universities cannot easily access. Working in the lab as an undergrad certainly was an unforgettable experience for me. I miss research very much, but my current activities are also quite fascinating.

I currently work for the California Department of Justice as a criminalist. My duties relate to the management of the California DNA Databank Program, maintaining and uploading profiles of convicted felons and analyzing DNA evidence for cold hits on unsolved cases. As a newcomer, I am being trained as a DNA Analyst, which includes taking classes and proficiency tests. So far, the job has been very interesting and fun, and the career outlook quite promising. After certification, I will be able to train in different areas of criminalistics, such as trace analysis, firearms examination, crime scene analysis, casework, and many other options. For those students looking at criminalistics as a career, I have some advice.

First, start applying early, at least a year before you want to start. Search for positions on the Internet or call the agencies and request information regarding their requirements. Even if you plan to get a graduate degree first, start applying to different agencies that pique your interest. Applying will give you insight into the application process. My application took more than eight months to process, and that included the background check, drug and physical examinations. The testing process was also quite lengthy. As I'm sure many of you do, you will want to have a clean record for this career. Each agency has different educational and practical requirements. Almost all labs require a bachelor's degree in the natural sciences, such as biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or MCB. The California DOJ requires at least one year in general chemistry and three units of quantitative chemical analysis (CHEM 325/326 for example). Genetics and statistics courses also are of great benefit when you start. If you get your educational requirements done, you can start training for the advanced techniques earlier. Graduate degrees are not required, but are helpful in opening up career choices earlier. I plan to attend the research oriented UC Davis graduate program in Forensic Sciences in the next few years. In most cases, however, if you want to get a graduate degree, finish that first, and then begin your career. Duties as a criminalist in any lab require a great amount of time, commitment, and dedication.

As a criminalist, I work with the justice system very closely. Hence, everything I do or say in the lab is open to scrutiny, and absolutely everything is documented. We keep it fun there, but the public eye is still watchful. I won't be testifying in court for a while, but that can be an additional stress factor. Working in a crime lab isn't all about being scrutinized, however. One continually learns through the various classes, statewide conventions, conferences, and seminars held throughout the year. Like a research career, it is best to keep learning and going into different fields, especially since there are usually opportunities to work in them for a period of time, especially in large agencies.

Work hours and benefits vary by agency. I work a standard 40-hour week, with weekends off. The California state government also offers 12 paid national holidays a year, and paid overtime. They provide excellent benefits, with health insurance and retirement plans. But this bureaucratic stuff doesn't come close to the satisfaction of directly helping and working with the criminal justice system.

Having said that, there is one thing I would have done differently. When I applied, I looked at only a few agencies. In retrospect, applying to more agencies would have been beneficial, again, just to gauge their individual requirements. At the time, I was considering graduate programs in biochemistry, so my mind was pulled in many different directions. That period of time right before graduation can be one of the most stressful in anyone's life. Making decisions about what to do after is a tough call. If you are currently in that position, I feel for you. Moving away from Tucson, a home for 22 years, meant huge life changes for me. I am open to your questions or concerns, about a career in criminalistics or anything in general. My contact info is below. Good luck! E-mail: Stephen.Lu@doj.ca.gov

Stephen Lu, Criminalist, Jan Bashinski DNA Lab, Richmond, California and UBRP alum from Dr. Michael Wells’s lab, Biochemistry & Molecular Biosciences