2,March 2024
Have you ever wondered how an offender is identified by a hair strand or saliva? This is because our hair and saliva store our DNA in it. When the police department or the investigation agencies visit the crime scene they collect every substance that could be possible evidence. They do so because these materials have the potential to be used as evidence. These hairs and saliva are examined and DNA is traced out of them. This task of tracing the DNA from various biological samples is done by DNA analysts. Here in this blog, we have mentioned the complete procedure for becoming a DNA analyst, the salary offered, and their job roles.
Forensic scientists who deal with the examination and analysis of the samples that have DNA in them are known as DNA Analysts. These experts examine various samples of DNA to trace the link between the samples collected from the crime scene and the suspects. They generally work in laboratories and conduct various examinations on the samples to identify the offender or the victim. These professionals can work in government and private agencies as per their choice.
Being such an expert is not an easy task. These professionals deal with the most critical samples. As a single variation in the readings of the DNA sample can lead to a change in the entire result thus will not be beneficial for the investigation process. Thus these professionals must be well educated and well trained in their respective fields. Here we have mentioned the complete details you need to check if you wish to be a DNA expert.
The foremost step in starting your professional journey is pursuing an undergraduate course. The essential component of this profession is to excellently complete basic educational qualifications. Candidates who wish to be an analyst can get admission to any recognized university and pursue a degree in forensics. For this candidates need to fulfill the basic eligibility criteria as mentioned below:
While pursuing your bachelor’s you can opt for any of the forensics course available at your institute. Along with this, you can opt for the mode of education. For example, you can opt for full-time, part-time, and distance mode.
Courses that are available to the students during their undergraduate years are mentioned below. While some of them are of 4 years duration others are 3 years duration courses. Courses are:
After the completion of graduation now the next step that needs your attention is getting training from a reputed organization. You can either work as an intern or can opt for the training as well. During this period you will get real-life experience in your field. This will prepare you for the upcoming challenges in your career. You can opt for working as a trainee or intern for 6 months to 24 months as per your choice and availability. This will enhance your skills and will prove to be beneficial for your career growth.
Once you are done with your graduation and training you can get a good job at any reputed company of your choice. But there is one thing that can help you in choosing the company where you wish to work. This is getting a certification in your desired specialization. It will help you learn new things and will also attract companies to you. A certified professional is preferred over a graduate individual. Though getting a certification is optional if you do this, it will act in your favor.
Though to work as an analyst completing graduation will be enough, to have an upper hand you can also opt for a master’s degree. Students can also opt for any of the post-graduation courses as per their choice. After doing post-graduation, you will be offered a higher salary than the candidates who have done undergraduate courses. Your salary will also depend on the institute you got your master’s degree from. Studying at a reputed institute will work as a shining star on your resume. Candidates are also required to fulfill the mentioned criteria for getting admission to a master’s degree:
Candidates have the choice of opting for any of the courses mentioned below in the list to pursue post-graduation courses. Options available to the candidates are:
The job role of these experts is crucial in crime investigation. They are an important part of the crime mystery investigation as they are the people who can find clues from materials that seem to be of no importance to officers. These people can confirm the suspects by identifying the DNA samples of all the people who are connected to the case in any manner. Some of the responsibilities that these experts fulfill are mentioned below:
These experts visit the crime scene and collect all the relevant samples from there for further investigation. They not only pick up the samples from the crime scene but also collect the samples of the people associated with the case in any manner. This can be done by these experts after getting the official court orders.
The task of maintaining the laboratory and all its equipment is vested in these experts. They need to check all the equipment and if they find any of them malfunctioning then they need to replace it immediately. Improper functioning of the equipment will result in variation in the findings and it is not good in delivering justice.
After the collection of the samples, these people examine them and try to build a bridge between the suspects and the findings. Their findings act as proof in the court and thus help in justice delivery. The samples that are examined by these people are:
These experts compare the findings of the samples collected from the crime scene with those of the suspects of the case. This helps in identifying the people who were present at the crime scene and who committed the crime.
The samples are preserved for future reference by these experts. They do so in case the samples will be required for further investigation of the case or a different one.
After getting the findings these experts record them in the database so that the investigating teams can use them.
These people give their testimony in court as well. When asked to do so, they advise the law enforcement agencies as well by presenting their thoughts to them.
These experts help in concluding the cases with utmost precision. After the examination of the DNA samples, these people present their findings to law enforcement agencies and testify as well. While presenting their testimony in the court of law they present sufficient proofs in the defense of the victim and help in identifying the offender by presenting enough proofs. Thus their salary bar is also higher than other forensic experts. After certain years of experience, these people get good packages. The salary of these experts varies depending on the factor of work experience they have. We have compiled the DNA analyst salary for the candidate’s reference below in the table:
| Serial No. | Experience | Salary (Per Annum) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Entry-level (0-5 Years) | Rs. 6,00,000 – 7,50,000 |
| 2. | Mid-career (5-10 Years) | Rs. 7,50,000 – 9,00,000 |
| 3. | Experienced (10-20 Years) | Rs. 9,00,000 – 12,00,000 |
| 4. | Late-career (more than 20 Years) | More than Rs. 12,00,000 |
The demand for these professionals is growing with each passing day. Hence they get good salaries from reputed and well-known organizations. These units are not only hospitals; instead, they are hired by a range of organizations. Both the private and the government sectors look for these professionals and hence hire them offering good perks and benefits too. Some of the top DNA analyst recruiters are mentioned below:
The job of DNA Analyst is not easy hence they should not be underestimated. They are an important pillar of the crime investigation and hence their profile is prestigious in society.
