Lead Forensic DNA Lab Specialist

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory is seeking a Crime Laboratory Technical Specialist to serve as the technical lead in the Forensic DNA Unit. The role includes oversight of Analysts, certification, QA, training, and emerging methods, with the authority to act as the supervisor’s designee.

The position requires a biology/chemistry-based degree and four years of crime-lab experience, with graduate coursework substitutions allowed, plus strong data analysis and policy-development skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 12 semester hours in biology or chemistry and 12 semester hours in a biological science, chemistry, forensic science, molecular physics, physics, criminalistics or pharmacology.
• Four years of professional-level crime laboratory experience.
• Graduate training in qualifying fields can substitute for experience at 30 semester hours per year, with a coursework mix allowed.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support in data analysis, equipment operation, troubleshooting, reagent prep, forensic database queries, and evidence collection.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in casework, data collection and interpretation.
• Conduct technical/administrative reviews of analytical data and reports, initiating corrective actions as needed.
• Review and recommend current forensic methods and research, implementing new methods.
• Draft and modify forensic policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Provide expert testimony on analytical processes, preparing evidence for analysis and instrumentation use.
• Stay up-to-date on accreditation standards in the forensic discipline.

Skills

Technical leadership

Forensic DNA

Data analysis

Laboratory oversight

Expert testimony

Education

Baccalaureate degree in biology/chemistry

Tools

Forensic instrumentation

Analytical software

Job description

Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory is seeking a Crime Laboratory Technical Specialist to serve as the technical lead in the Forensic DNA Unit. The role includes oversight of Analysts, certification, QA, training, and emerging methods, with the authority to act as the supervisor’s designee.

The position requires a biology/chemistry-based degree and four years of crime-lab experience, with graduate coursework substitutions allowed, plus strong data analysis and policy-development skills.