Work Study Forensic Science Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), is seeking a Forensic Science Examiner 3 in the Chemical Analysis Section in the Division of Scientific Services located in Meriden, CT.

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.

This position is full-time, onsite, 40 hours per week, scheduled Monday through Friday.

Incumbents in this class may be required to work flexible hours.

Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

The Forensic Science Examiner 3 will work within the Chemical Analysis Section which is comprised of the toxicology, controlled substances, and general chemistry units.

DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.

1. Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence

• Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data
• Challenging the 'that's the way it's always been done' construct - i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve
• Constantly seeking better results

2. Shared Fiscal Responsibility

• Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources
• Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests
• Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges

3. Ethics and Accountability

• Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies
• Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement
• Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments
• Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways

The Division of Scientific Services serves as the forensic laboratory for the State of Connecticut, providing critical support to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the state. The Division is structured into three primary analytical sections:

• Chemical Analysis Section – encompassing toxicology, controlled substances, and general chemistry
• Forensic Biology/DNA Section – specializing in the analysis of biological evidence and DNA profiling
• Identification Section – including firearms/toolmarks, latent prints and digital/computer crimes analysis

In addition, the Division is supported by two non-analytical sections:

• Quality Section – responsible for maintaining laboratory accreditation and quality assurance standards
• Laboratory Support Services Section – which includes administration, evidence receiving, and case management functions

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.

Candidate selected for an interview must provide the following at the time of interview:

• State Employees: Two (2) most recent performance evaluations and a completed CT-HR-13 form.
• Non-State Employees: Two (2) professional references contact information (Name, Email and Phone Number) and a completed CT-HR-13 form.

We will also ask all candidates to bring a copy of their unofficial transcript(s).

Also considered in this selection process: Any pending or disciplinary history within the past 2 years and review of attendance records.

In the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services this class is accountable for supervising the activities and operations of a section engaged in selecting and conducting a variety of highly complex tests to analyze physical evidence.

DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA) SECTION: Incumbents are responsible for supervising staff performing complex analysis of forensic biology evidence such as nuclear and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION SECTION: Incumbents are responsible for supervising staff performing complex analysis of evidence such as latent fingerprints, electronic/digital imagining, firearms, ballistics, toolmarks, questioned documents, imprints and investigating electronic related criminal activity.

TOXICOLOGY SECTION: Incumbents are responsible for supervising staff performing complex analysis of forensic biology evidence such as trace, physical, chemical samples, autopsy specimens, body fluids, hairs, fibers and identification of suspected poisonous substances.

• Schedules, assigns, oversees and reviews work of staff and laboratory operations;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Conducts performance evaluations;
• Determines priorities and plans unit work;
• Establishes and maintains unit procedures and quality assurance/control programs;
• Develops or makes recommendations on the development of policies and standards;
• Acts as liaison with other operating units, agencies and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures;
• Prepares complex comprehensive reports and correspondence;
• Maintains instrumentation and equipment and safeguards laboratory physical evidence;
• Maintains chemicals, supplies and inventory;
• Ensures laboratory safety;
• Conducts proficiency testing;
• Attends court trials to evaluate testimony of subordinates;
• Assists in the preparation and presentation of the laboratory program budget;
• Handles the most complex cases in the section;
• Serves as State Police scientific representative;
• Testifies in court as an expert witness and before legislative bodies;
• Carries out advanced scientific research in appropriate fields;
• Maintains building security;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
• and ability to apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
• relevant agency policies and procedures;
• current laboratory facilities, methods, equipment, instrumentation and material;
• modern methods of criminal investigations and identification;
• applicable techniques and procedures for analyzing evidentiary materials;
• physical laboratory instrumentation, documents, firearms, fingerprints and crime reconstruction techniques;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to
• independently conduct technical, analytical, consultative, and research activities;
• utilize computer software;
• act as an expert witness in a court of law on complex and sensitive cases; reconstruct crime scenes;
• Supervisory ability.

Eight (8) years of experience in forensic analysis of evidentiary material.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a lead capacity guiding the activities of professional forensic science laboratory personnel.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Forensic Science Examiner 2.

• College training in forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology or closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience required on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology or closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• A Ph.D. in forensic science, applied genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, molecular and cell biology or closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

• Experience with Forensic Chemical Analysis Section Management (Controlled Substances, Chemistry, Toxicology, and Breath Analysis), including daily task assignments, case assignment, and unit workflow development.
• Experience in training Forensic Chemical Analysis Section (including Controlled Substances, Chemistry, Toxicology and Breath Analysis) analysts
• Experience with a Laboratory Information Management system
• Experience writing and editing forensic standard operating procedures associated with the forensic Chemical Analysis Section (including Controlled Substances, Chemistry, Toxicology and Breath Analysis)

• Incumbents in this class may be required to work flexible hours.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

In addition to the checking of references and facts in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be conducted before persons are certified for permanent appointment.

Incumbents may be exposed to communicable diseases and hazardous substances.

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

As defined by Sec.5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.