FBI Visiting Scientist Program: Counterterrorism and Forensic Science

FBI logoThe ORISE Visiting Scientist Program (VSP) is an educational and training program designed to connect participants with unique resources at the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) laboratory.

The FBI Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit (CFSRU) provides technical leadership for the FBI as well as for other law enforcement and intelligence agencies through applied research and development.

What will I be doing? As a participant with the CFSRU VSP, you will have an opportunity to enhance your professional development and increase your research capabilities and contributions by participating in forensic research initiatives utilizing state-of-the-art equipment under the mentorship of CFSRU scientists. The VSP will expose you to a research environment in a high security government facility and provides an opportunity to perform research in areas of interest unique to law enforcement and national security.

Detailed information regarding the research topics and daily tasks can be found on the opportunity listing.

Where will I be located? Quantico, Virginia

Why should I apply?  Under the guidance of a mentor, you will perform sophisticated laboratory techniques using emerging technologies, judge the completeness and accuracy of research results, perform statistical analyses on data, and prepare written manuscripts for FBI review and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The benefits include a competitive stipend and relocation up to $1,000. You will receive a travel allowance of $5,000 per appointment year to cover travel-related expenses to scientific and professional development activities. The initial appointment can be up to one year but may be renewed upon recommendation of FBI contingent on the availability of funds. The appointment can be made on a full-time or part-time basis.

Am I eligible? Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen and have completed requirements for a Bachelor’s, Master, or PhD or complete all the requirements for the degree by the anticipated start date of the appointment.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more about CFSRU and apply here.

Master’s in Forensic Toxicology & Analytical Genetics

The University of Kentucky is accepting applications for it’s Master’s in Forensics Toxicology & Analytical Genetics. The program has two areas of concentration: Forensic Toxicology/Chemistry and Forensic/Analytical Genetics. Through the common core curriculum, students in both concentrations will have foundational information and skill set in advanced forensic science, writing, communication, professionalism, ethics, legal perspectives, and workplace-specific laboratory skills. The curriculum contains two internships which provide students with hands-on experiences necessary to be competitive in the job market upon exiting the program. This is a two-year program.

Tuition for this program is assessed at a special rate for all students (in- and out-of-state), which represents significant savings for out-of-state students. Graduates will be competitive for workforce deployment in the areas of: private industry drug testing, private DNA analysis, forensic governmental divisions, or hospital clinical labs.

Applications submitted by April 1, 2023 will be given priority for admission. Applications submitted after April 1 will be considered for any remaining openings. There is no GRE requirement. Check out the flyer and/or the website to learn more.

For more information, contact Dr. Isabel Mellon, Director of Graduate Students, at toxandcancerbio@uky.edu. Questions may also be directed to Morgan Rothermel, Education and Research Coordinator, at morgan.rothermel@uky.edu.

New: FBI Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit Fellowship

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit’s (CFSRU) provides technical leadership for the FBI as well as for other law enforcement and intelligence agencies through applied research and development.

What will I be doing? As a participant with the Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit’s (CFSRU) Visiting Scientist Program (VSP), you will have an opportunity to enhance your professional development and increase your research capabilities and contributions by participating in forensic research initiatives utilizing state-of-the-art equipment under the mentorship of CFSRU scientists. The VSP will expose you to a research environment in a high security government facility and provides an opportunity to perform research in areas of interest unique to law enforcement and national security.

More information regarding the research topics and daily tasks can be found on the opportunity listing.

Why should I apply?  Under the the guidance of a mentor you will perform sophisticated laboratory techniques using emerging technologies, judge the completeness and accuracy of research results, perform statistical analyses on data, and prepare written manuscripts for FBI review and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

There are summer or full-year appointments available on full or part-time basis. The benefits include a competitive stipend and relocation up to $1,000. Location is Quantico, Virginia.

Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen and have completed requirements for a Bachelor’s, Master, or PhD or complete all the requirements for the degree by the anticipated start date of the appointment. Learn more and apply here.

Master’s in Forensic Toxicology & Analytical Genetics

The University of Kentucky is accepting applications for it’s Master’s in Forensics Toxicology & Analytical Genetics. The program has two areas of concentration: Forensic Toxicology/Chemistry and Forensic/Analytical Genetics. Through the common core curriculum, students in both concentrations will have foundational information and skill set in advanced forensic science, writing, communication, professionalism, ethics, legal perspectives, and workplace-specific laboratory skills. The curriculum contains two internships which provide students with hands-on experiences necessary to be competitive in the job market upon exiting the program. This is a two-year program.

Tuition for this program is assessed at a special rate for all students (in- and out-of-state), which represents significant savings for out-of-state students. Graduates will be competitive for workforce deployment in the areas of: private industry drug testing, private DNA analysis, forensic governmental divisions, or hospital clinical labs.

Applications submitted by April 1, 2021 will be given priority for admission. Applications submitted after April 1 will be considered for any remaining openings. There is no GRE requirement. Learn more and apply here.

Questions can be directed to the department at toxandcancerbio@uky.edu or directly to Morgan Rothermel, morgan.rothermel@uky.edu.

DEA Job Opening: Forensic Chemist

Drug Enforcement Administration has Forensic Chemist job openings at its Pleasanton, CA; Miami, FL; and Chicago, IL locations.

Incumbents will perform quantitative and qualitative chemical analysis on evidence in lab, testify in court, and advise and assist law enforcement personnel, amongst other duties.

Learn more or apply here.

Please note: Applications can be accepted from students who expect to graduate by June 2020 and if a transcript is provided with anticipated conferral date. However, DEA must verify that the degree has been conferred before the applicant can be appointed.

Master’s in Forensic Toxicology & Analytical Genetics

The University of Kentucky is accepting applications for it’s Master’s in Forensics Toxicology & Analytical Genetics. The program has two areas of concentration: forensic toxicology and analytical genetics. Through the common core curriculum, students in both concentrations will have foundational information and skill set in advanced forensic science, writing, communication, professionalism, ethics, legal perspectives, and workplace-specific laboratory skills. The curriculum contains two internships which provide students with hands-on experiences necessary to be competitive in the job market upon exiting the program.

Tuition for this program is assessed at a special rate for all students (in- and out-of-state), which represents significant savings for out-of-state students. Graduates will be competitive for workforce deployment in the areas of: private industry drug testing, private DNA analysis, forensic governmental divisions, or hospital clinical labs.

Applications submitted by April 1 will be given priority for admission. Applications submitted after April 1 will be considered for any remaining openings. Learn more and apply here.

Questions can be directed to the department at toxandcancerbio@uky.edu or directly to Morgan Rothermel, morgan.rothermel@uky.edu.

Master’s in Forensic Toxicology & Analytical Genetics

As the flagship university in the Commonwealth, the University of Kentucky provides the only Master’s of Forensic Toxicology and Analytical Genetics (or degree of comparable nature) in the state, and it is only the fifth such professional master’s degree in the field of forensics in the nation.

This two-year program has two areas of concentration: one concentration is focused on Forensic Toxicology/Chemistry and the second on Forensic/Analytical Genetics. Through the common core curriculum, students in both concentrations will have foundational information and skill set in advanced forensic science, writing, communication, professionalism, ethics, legal perspectives, and workplace-specific laboratory skills. Through a rigorous targeted finishing curriculum in either concentration, including internship experiences and cognate elective courses, the graduates will be competitive for workforce deployment in the areas of private industry drug testing, private DNA analysis, forensic governmental divisions, and hospital clinical labs.

This new degree is an advanced training curriculum that includes courses to prepare students for courtroom testimony and two internship experiences to prepare students for rapid workforce deployment upon graduation.

More information can be found on the flyer and the program’s website.

The department is still recruiting students for Fall 2019, so this may be of interest to recent graduates! Interested students can email Isabel Mellon or the department.

Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Summer School Program Application Deadline Approaching

Application Deadline: February 28, 2018 at 11:59pm

Nuclear Forensics Undergraduate Summer School (NFUSS) is a six-week course, sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), designed to provide undergraduate students with comprehensive, experimental, hands-on training in topics essential to nuclear forensics. This program will be held June 11 to July 20, 2018, at the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City. Through laboratory experiments and complementary lectures, students are introduced to the practice and technical aspects of nuclear forensic science. The program will also include a field trip to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Nuclear forensics involves examining materials recovered from radiological and nuclear events of an illicit or hostile nature in order to determine their character and origin. Nuclear forensics conclusions, combined with information from law enforcement investigation and intelligence, help identify those responsible for planned and actual attacks.

Nuclear forensics supports the U.S. Government’s commitment to identify and hold fully accountable any state or non-state actor that willfully supports, enables, or engages in hostile weapons of mass destruction, and activities that threaten the United States or our allies and partners.

Important Dates

  • Application deadline:February 28, 2018
  • Reference received deadline: March 9, 2018
  • Candidates notified of selection:March 1-30, 2018
  • Program dates:June 11 to July 20, 2018
  • Field trip to Oak Ridge National Laboratory:Tentative date of July 11, 2018

For more information, visit https://orise.orau.gov/nfuss/ or contact NFUSS@orau.org.

Want to jump start your search for the right research program? Check out this listing of programs that have recently reached out to CBC students.