What They’re Still Figuring Out: A Conversation with the ISHI Advisory Committee
Experience doesn’t eliminate uncertainty. The ISHI Advisory Committee was asked what they’re still figuring out as forensic scientists. The answers are specific, honest, and probably familiar. https://youtu.be/xpOeLs-hB-c Shena Latcham is still working on training. Not whether to train — how. Specifically: how to get analysts prepared to walk into a courtroom and hold up under […]
Dear Mentor: Building a Lab Where Critical Thinking Thrives
Critical thinking in a forensic lab isn’t something that develops on its own. It develops because someone created the conditions for it, and those conditions don’t appear by accident. That’s the frame the FLA mentors brought to a recent question from the field: how can leaders cultivate critical thinking in their teams? Their answers weren’t […]
Dear Mentor: When Burnout Isn’t About the Work
Burnout in forensic labs is a leadership problem — but not always for the reason leaders assume. The instinct is to look at the caseload. The backlog. The mandatory overtime and the court deadlines and the sample volume that doesn’t match staffing levels. Those things are real. But according to the mentors of the Forensic […]
What 24 Hours Without a Phone Taught this Millennial about Networking at a Conference
I came to San Diego with a plan. I’d start each morning with an iced chai latte from Starbucks, walk to the sessions, sit at exactly the 5th seat in from the end of the row (no one REALLY wants to sit right next to each other, so once seat 3 is taken, you’re in […]
Strengthening Forensic Science: Training the Next Generation & Cold Case Innovations
How do we train forensic scientists to stay in the field—and what’s next for cold case investigations? At ISHI 35, Julie Sikorsky, Forensic Biology Manager at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, shared her insights on: 🔬 Fixing the forensic pipeline—how to recruit, train, and retain skilled forensic scientists 🧬 The evolution of cold case […]
Shaping the Future of Forensic Genetics: Claire Glynn on Advancing Science and Empowering Students
What’s it like to transform a field while training the next generation of forensic scientists? At ISHI 35, Claire Glynn, Associate Professor at the University of New Haven, sat down with ISHI Student Ambassador, Charlotte Sutter, to discuss her journey in forensic genetics, from groundbreaking work in FIGG to launching an innovative graduate certificate program. […]
From PhD to Communications in Four Phases: A Practical Guide to Uncover your Career Skills
Written by Nour Mozaffari, Promega Switzerland. Reposted from Promega Connections with permission. Remember learning to swim and realizing you could float without trying? While floating alone did not make you fit for the Olympics, it did mean you were ready to start learning the moves without sinking. As a PhD student or recent graduate exploring a […]
Exploring Career Options for PhD Students: Planning for Success
Written by Lindsey Drake, Promega. Reposted from Promega Connections with permission. Earning a PhD opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities across academia, industry, government, and beyond. While many students begin their PhD programs with specific career goals, research shows that career interests often evolve during their training (Brown et al., 2023). Therefore, exploring […]
Streamlining DNA Analyst Training: Insights on Bridging Education and Laboratory Practice
Forensic DNA analysts undergo extensive training to bridge the gap between their academic studies and the practical demands of crime laboratory work. However, with training programs often spanning up to two years, both new hires and forensic laboratories face significant challenges in balancing onboarding with the urgent need for casework. Recognizing this, Dr. Kelly Elkins […]