Graduate Assistantships

BMFS Graduate Assistantships are part-time paid positions that involve students in the teaching, preparation, and maintenance of a variety of laboratories and research activities in the program. Assistantships awarded to incoming students generally begin in Spring and may be offered for up to three semesters.

Types of BMFS Graduate Assistantships:

Forensic Biology Teaching Assistant

Typical duties include:

  • Performing a run-through of each lab experiment in advance
  • Setting up lab stations each week on morning of lab class
  • Preparing chemicals and unknown samples
  • Placing and keeping track of orders for chemicals and equipment
  • Maintaining lab organization and cleanliness

Available to current students who have successfully completed GMS FS 704

Criminalistics Research Assistant

Typical duties include:

  • Preparing mock evidence/crime scenes and hands-on exercises for GMS FS 701, 706, 800 and 840
  • Assisting students during lab exercises as needed
  • Maintaining lab organization and cleanliness
  • Researching new methods/techniques that can be incorporated into future exercises
  • Accessioning and preserving donated biological samples
  • Calibrating laboratory equipment and ordering supplies
  • Chemical and biohazards waste management

Available to incoming students who have demonstrated academic excellence, preferably those with prior forensic science coursework/internship exposure

Instrumental Analysis Laboratory Assistant

Typical duties include:

  • Cleaning glassware and maintaining the cleanliness of the laboratory 
  • Preparing solutions and ordering supplies
  • Assisting with preparation of lab exercises prior to class
  • Assisting students with data processing

Available to incoming students taking GMS FS 708 in their first semester

Multimedia Assistant

Typical duties include:

  • Video recording of mock testimony exercises
  • Video recording of thesis presentations
  • Photography of program events
  • Assisting with designing and editing online or printed material

Available to incoming students

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Typical duties include:

  • Organizing chemicals/supplies/equipment pertaining to the course
  • Preparing chemicals and/or specific bloodstain patterns when needed
  • Setting up each experiment prior to class
  • Uploading digital photos from the lab experiments each day

Available to current students who have successfully completed GMS FS 713

Forensic Chemistry Research Assistant

Typical duties include:

  • Maintaining inventory and ordering the laboratory supplies
  • Calibrating, carrying out maintenance and coordinating instrument service
  • Assisting first year students with with training and method development for their research

Available to current students who have successfully completed GMS FS 703

DNA Laboratory Assistant

Typical duties include:

  • Aiding in general laboratory maintenance
  • Solution preparation
  • QC of 7500 RT-PCR instrumentation, 9700 thermal-cycler, inventory maintenance, etc.

Available to incoming students with experience and/or training in an operational (chemistry, biology, forensic) science laboratory, including internships