FORENSIC SCIENTIST II8137C3 Pay Grade: DEFINITION OF WORK Summary This is professional level work in a forensic science laboratory. Work involves performing complex analytical, chemical, physical immunological and instrumental techniques. Employees in this class have expertise in multiple areas of the forensic laboratory either within a specific section or in two or more sections such as chemistry, biology, toxicology, documents, firearms, and latent prints. Work involves conducting examinations and testifying in court as an expert witness regarding evidence in those cases where facts are complex and difficult to establish, and standard tests may not produce conclusive results without interpretation. Standard Classification Factors Supervision Received - LEVEL C: "Under direction…" Employees at this level usually receive a general outline of the work to be performed and are generally free to develop their own sequences and methods within the scope of established policies. New, unusual, or complex work situations are almost always referred to a superior for advice. Work is periodically checked for progress and conformance to established policies and requirements. Difficulty - LEVEL C: Considerable… Duties which require a high degree of concentration because of the many factors which must be considered and weighed before a decision can be reached. Usually positions that require planning, developing, and coordinating programs and directing fairly large groups of people fall into this category. Complexity - LEVEL D: Work is of a diversified nature that usually involves multiple unrelated steps. Analytical thought is necessary for dealing with complex data and situations. Work often involves a variety of unrelated processes and may require planning or carrying out a sequence of actions or both. Several alternatives usually exist at this level for approaching problems or situations. Workers at this level exercise a considerable amount of independent judgment. Work is controlled by occasional review and by reporting to or consultation with supervisors or superiors. When guidelines exist at this level, they are usually broadly defined or technical requiring careful analysis and interpretation. Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial. Contacts - LEVEL C: The purpose of the contact is to influence, motivate, conduct interviews, make formal presentations or counsel to achieve common understanding or solutions to problems when the information is sensitive in nature or the individuals or groups are skeptical or uncooperative. Communication techniques and well developed communication skills become an important requirement at this level. Physical Demands - LEVEL B: The work requires light physical exertion. The employee may be required to perform handling activities with lightweight or easily moved items (e.g. books, file folders, boxes of office supplies, small machine parts, etc.); perform moving activities for brief periods; operate light equipment; perform repetitive motions for brief periods; confined to a work area. Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible. Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL B: Involves functional leadership responsibility. As a "senior worker", performing essentially the same or similar work as those overseen, responsibility includes training, instructing, scheduling and reviewing. As a "project leader" may be responsible for a phase(s) of a single project which includes planning, coordinating and reviewing the work of others. This level may also involve limited administrative responsibility such as participating in the evaluation of work performance. Distinguishing Features Differs from the Forensic Scientist I and Forensic Examiner classes in which the incumbents receive training to perform entry level professional work. The cases assigned to the Forensic Scientist I are less complicated; testing procedures are standardized; and results readily apparent and conclusive. Differs from the Forensic Scientist III class in which the incumbents are either a lead examiner with supervisory responsibilities for a specific unit of a large section or an examiner with responsibilities for a specific, specialized, and complicated function within a smaller section. EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED Performs complex, physical and chemical analyses on evidence using sophisticated laboratory instruments. Maintains appropriate quality control methods. Performs analytical, chemical, physical and instrumental techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry, ultra-violet/visible spectrophotometry, fourier transform infra-red spectrometry, as they pertain to procedures for the analysis of alcohol in liquids, and drugs in plant material, powers, liquids and paraphernalia. Identifies and compares materials such as fibers, glass, paint, soil, flammable materials, metals, greases, ink, alcoholic beverages, gun powder residues or other trace evidence using chemical, physical and instrumental techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry, polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and mass spectrometry to determine what each item is or to determine if any of the items studied came from a common source. Examines blood, urine, body fluids, and postmortem human organs using instrumental techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, high pressure liquid chromatography and radio immunoassay to determine if alcohol, drugs, and/or poisons are present for toxicological purposes and to identify the type and quantity of the substance present. Analyzes biological material such as blood, saliva, semen, and hair using chemical, physical, immunological and electrophoretic techniques to identify the substances, determine origin and individualize the stains or hair through either microscopic comparisons or genetic marker groupings and DNA analysis to determine if the item studied came from a common source or person. Identifies, photographs, and compares latent prints and track evidence using chemical, physical and instrumental techniques in order to identify persons or materials involved in criminal activities. Identifies and compares tool marks, fired bullets, cartridge cases, and firearm discharge residues using chemical, physical and instrumental techniques such as comparison microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and fourier transform infra-red spectrometry to determine the physical and chemical aspects of unknowns and to show similarities to knowns; determines firearm muzzle to target distances; restores obliterated serial numbers. Analyzes and compares handwriting, hand printing, mechanical impressions on documents, photocopies, and other types of printed material using chemical, physical and instrumental techniques such as the video spectra comparisons, scanning electron microscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the authorship, if it is genuine and the authenticity of the material, the source of the material or to demonstrate relationships between two materials. Participates in clandestine laboratory crime scene processing for the proper collection, preservation, and interpretation of evidence. Participates in crime scene processing of violent crime cases such as homicides and sexual assaults for the proper collection, preservation, and interpretation of evidence. Receives, records, retains, and returns or disposes of evidence submitted to the laboratory so that the chain of custody is properly maintained for court presentation. Prepares detailed reports of test and findings; prepares displays for use in courtroom presentation. Accepted in the courts as an expert witness in different disciplines and testifies in order to explain, corroborate or contest analyses conducted on evidence submitted in criminal proceedings. Reads literature, attends/instructs at seminars, workshops, and in-service training programs; attends staff meetings; reviews journals and books; and consults with other laboratories to learn new procedures, policies, and techniques in laboratory analysis. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS Knowledge *Knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, physics, biology, or microanalysis as they relate to laboratory analysis of body fluids, organs, alcohol, drugs, poisons, hair, paint, documents, firearms, and latent fingerprint identification. *Knowledge of the physical characteristics of biological stains, human organs, alcohol, drugs, poisons, human and animal hair, fibers, textiles and paint, firearms, documents, and latent fingerprint identification to appropriately identify and conduct the proper analysis. *Knowledge of the scientific methods of investigation and their application to forensic analytical problems. *Knowledge of the nature of physical evidence and the proper collection procedures and documentation methods at a crime scene. *Knowledge of methods used to illustrate information for use in reports and support testimony in criminal investigations. *Knowledge of statistics. *Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of laboratory testing. *Knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and repair of complex laboratory instruments. Abilities *Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. *Ability to adapt theories and principles of natural and physical sciences to problems encountered in the analysis of physical evidence. *Ability to conduct complex test using laboratory equipment, chemicals, and instrumentation to obtain results. *Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to testify and present physical evidence and accurately record results of investigations. *Ability to maintain composure while under cross-examination in a court of law regarding scientific results and professional qualifications. *Ability to read scientific and technical journals and textbooks and apply the knowledge gained. *Ability to use sophisticated laboratory instrumentation, chemicals, and equipment in conducting analyses of evidence submitted to the laboratory as part of the investigation of a criminal case. *Ability to prepare accurate and thorough reports. *Necessary at Entry MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: A Bachelor's degree relevant to the field of work and six months relevant work experience. Experience may be substituted for education as determined relevant by the agency. NC: 06/93 |