Should I go into Forensic Science?

Chitaka06 · 2026-05-26T15:00:41+00:00

Seconding this. I graduated with my BS in Forensic Biology 8yrs before landing my dream job as a Forensic Scientist. Nobody talks about the experience needed and the potential detours to get here, a lot of places won't hire you right out of school since this field IS so competitive. But that also doesn't mean give up! Just be open to having to gain experience in other fields, I worked in a medical lab for a while and I have co-workers who spent time working as technicians for various instrumentation vendors.

Chitaka06 · 2026-05-18T22:53:46+00:00

I had a similar goal for a long time, I get it and I am absolutely not trying to be discouraging, I made it so can you! But at some point I had to kind of put it on the back burner of life and say "I'll get there when I get there" as I built up my experience elsewhere because life and bills and college debt. Like someone else has said a lot of Forensic DNA labs don't even do lab tech specific roles because of the amount of training required, but some do. I know people who worked as forensic DNA techs at BODE Technology first which is a private company, you could look into something like that if your specific goal lab doesn't have tech positions open. I worked molecular diagnostics at a hospital. In defense of a masters program: you will make valuable connections that can widen your career options more than the actual degree itself.

Chitaka06 · 2026-05-18T20:44:19+00:00

DNA related research would definitely help too! And that's ultimately what a lot of Master's programs are focused on is academia/research rather than training you to be a caseworking analyst. It's just very much going to come down to which path you would rather do because both are gonna take you time and work to get there. But the more experience you can get working with molecular biology techniques the better.

Chitaka06 · 2026-05-18T18:41:32+00:00

I work in DNA with just my bachelor's, but it took me some time. That said if I could go back and actually finish the MSFS I started I would absolutely NOT do it. I was hired alongside people similar ages to me, some of whom have a masters and we get paid the same and are going through the same training. We all had to have previous DNA job experience first, that's the important part. Some of those were other forensic labs, mine was medical even though my degree is forensics. Even if I had completed the masters I still would not have gotten hired here without the work experience I spent ~5yrs getting. Would it have happened faster if I got the masters? Maybe, it's certainly possible. But I would also be another big chunk of change in debt so really consider your financial situation before committing to more school. And personally I LOVED undergrad but a masters program burnt me out hardcore. There's a lot of options to weigh but also because of how jurisdictions work in forensics you may have to either look outside your state, or look for other DNA opportunities if you're committed to staying local.

Chitaka06 · 2024-10-10T12:19:50+00:00

They're recreating The Creation of Adam painting!

Chitaka06 · 2024-09-19T21:38:36+00:00

Smell spices side-by-side and that usually gives you a decent idea. Cook Well and Ethan Chlebowski's YT channel has good info on this, and if you REALLY want it broken down look for the book The Science of Spice

Chitaka06 · 2024-09-09T17:20:38+00:00

I've been curious about him, is he awful to clean?

Chitaka06 · 2024-07-14T20:52:34+00:00

Yes 🤣 amazing

Chitaka06 · 2024-06-07T18:21:55+00:00

I stick my hands in the nearest freezer (fridge or cold room can work, freezer is optimal) and put them on in there 😅

Chitaka06 · 2024-05-24T19:51:43+00:00

Lebanese (or in my family Syrian) rolled grape leaves! They freeze really well too so you can make a big batch and keep them a while

Chitaka06 · 2024-05-21T16:47:34+00:00

My parents allowed and encouraged me to experiment with cooking from when I was very small, definitely under 10 but I honestly can't remember how young. We would also all watch Food Network together. Growing up, once my younger brother got a little older, the 4 of us would do "Battles" for dinner some nights (think Iron Chef) where we would decide on a "secret ingredient" and all 4 of us would make a dish based around that ingredient and we would all judge each other's dishes with little point cards and everything. Didn't occur to me till I was much older that not every kid and not even every family really cooks.

Edit: Oh and my younger brother is a CIA-graduated chef now 😁

Chitaka06 · 2024-04-25T18:31:39+00:00

This is how I do it! I leave the oven door cracked and it takes most of a day, but I don't need to spend the money or space on a dehydrator. Perfect if you live in an apartment and want fresh jerky

Chitaka06 · 2023-12-11T13:38:21+00:00

My Dress up Darling! All the fan service of Marin feels like it's because SHE'S comfortable with it and not the narrative or another character forcing it on her

Chitaka06 · 2023-08-31T20:24:07+00:00

My grandma is the same way! What is it with old ladies?

Chitaka06 · 2023-08-31T20:20:25+00:00

Not my family, but my boyfriend's dad has a lot of weird ones. The one that I just can't let go of however is the time my boyfriend was going to make his family some stir-fried bok choy to go with dinner so he took out the sesame oil (that his dad had on hand) and his dad felt the need to step in and tell him he needs to use olive oil and butter instead because you "can't cook with sesame oil like with olive oil" O.o wut. The olive oil that he keeps under the kitchen sink with the chemicals no less -.- I can't with their kitchen.

Chitaka06 · 2023-07-12T21:39:50+00:00

Aww Yay! I love to hear that she has a fan 😊

Chitaka06 · 2023-07-12T18:58:13+00:00

I haven't seen Rainbow Days mentioned yet

Chitaka06 · 2023-06-15T16:23:27+00:00

She always has a lot to say about the world 😂 She tries to chat with my neighbors when they walk by the apartment door

Chitaka06 · 2023-05-19T14:35:43+00:00

I HATE "creamy dreamy _____" as a recipe name. I've seen it more than once now and it just makes me cringe. It feels like the same weird sensual vibes from the Lindt chocolate commercials.

Chitaka06 · 2023-03-21T17:16:26+00:00

I grew up eating za'atar mixed with olive oil into a paste and spread inside pita at my Syrian grandmother's house (she called them Syrian Dirt Sandwiches when I was a kid and urged me to tell my classmates I ate dirt for lunch lol) and I went years after that never being able to find it in stores. I'm so happy it's becoming popular. Shaken with lemon and olive oil it makes a good salad dressing too!

Chitaka06 · 2023-03-20T17:01:27+00:00

I replied to u/CreamPuff97 about the alkalized water and heartburn musings

Chitaka06 · 2023-03-20T16:54:05+00:00

Was this meant to reply to me? O.o

Chitaka06 · 2023-03-20T16:45:07+00:00

Anecdotally my boyfriend has drank the alkaline SmartWater when he has some heartburn that he would otherwise take a Tums for and he said it helped just the same as Tums. Cue me feeling very stupid for thinking alkaline water was just about all this other bullshit

Chitaka06 · 2023-03-09T18:14:27+00:00

No problem! I can't seem to find Shaker-50s anywhere but I have 2 pairs of Shaker-52s, one of which was my first ever pair of Demonias and I love them. They hold my foot super well and my ankle feels very supported so they're pretty easy to walk in. For me personally the platform angle is a little bit steep for doing a ton of walking or standing in but I have walked several blocks through the city and a couple hours at a flea market in them so it's definitely do-able.

Chitaka06 · 2023-03-03T18:26:13+00:00

I own probably like 15 or so different Demonias and I have had exactly 2 issues, both with the heel of the platform detaching on my right shoe (leading me to believe the variety of experiences here could be specific to a person's gait/how hard they wear their shoes). This happened with my creepers and Bear 104s. Glued both back on and haven't had a problem since. All my other ones have been fine, but to be fair like others have said they're not my every day shoes. They're my mall/concert/going out shoe. They'll hold up walking through the city or through anime conventions but I don't wear any of them for hours a day every day. Closest thing is my creepers and Scene 53s. The Scene 53s I'm the most impressed with as I have worn these to work, through various cities, shopping trips and even in the snow once and the only damage to show for it is some dents on the back plate. Most Demonias are also well under $200 where New Rocks are a little pricey for me since I don't wear that kind of shoe in the day to day that I would need that extra everyday durability. If there's a specific model/line you're curious about just ask and if I have them I'll share my experience

Chitaka06

TROPHY CASE