Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Sheehan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was 8, I had a sneaking suspicion that my parents were actually the “Tooth Fairy”. In the morning, I took a handwriting sample from my Mom and later that night placed a note to the Tooth Fairy under my pillow. To my surprise, the next morning, the Tooth Fairy wrote back and the handwriting was different than my Mom’s! I would later find out that my parent’s caught on to my scheme, and my Dad wrote back as the Tooth Fairy. Now, I know to collect the evidence first and get a known handwriting sample after!
I always knew I wanted to do something relating to science, unless my dream of becoming a Disney star worked out. But in all seriousness, science classes were always my favorite part of a school, and I love mysteries.
It should come as no surprise that I am a forensic scientist.
I attended Suffolk University and received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a concentration in Forensic Science. My favorite class was obviously the Introduction to Forensic Science lecture and the corresponding laboratory. As part of the program at Suffolk, I interned at the Boston Police Department Latent Print Unit. After graduation, my Forensic Science Professor, Donald Hayes, who was also the Director of the Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory offered me a contract position as a Forensic Technologist.
While I was a student at Suffolk, I was part of the school’s American Chemical Society chapter, nerd alert, and it was through this club that I met my husband! We got married in November 2010.
In 2014, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship through the city of Boston for further education. I attended the Boston University School of Medicine Forensic Sciences Program part time and in 2017 finally received a Master of Science in Biomedical Forensic Sciences. Attending this program, gave me the opportunity to take the necessary additional classes I needed to become a DNA analyst, and I am currently cross-training to become a DNA analyst in the Crime Laboratory.
Last year, the Director of my laboratory couldn’t teach the Forensic Science class at Suffolk University, and passed the torch to me! Now I am also an adjunct Instructor at Suffolk University and teach the Introduction to Forensic Science class that began my journey into Forensics.
I have also been at the lab for 12 years now, and have worked my way up to a Criminalist III.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My early career was as smooth as it could be. Believe it or not, forensic science has a very strong female presence! In my lab, there are 15 women and 5 men. However, sometimes I find that people outside of the lab underestimate my abilities and knowledge due to my age.
There are challenges that you face in the forensic science field. Cases can be difficult to handle and you have to separate yourself from the emotional aspect of cases. Sometimes this comes off as being cold, however, it is necessary to do your best work and give a case justice.
Going back to school as an adult had its own set of challenges. I hadn’t taken a test or written a paper in 8 years when I went back to school! My schedule was also hectic since I was working during the day and taking classes at night, or making up any time I missed. My husband was very supportive throughout the entire process. He was also very patient with my mood swings and the occasional breakdown during my thesis writing process!
Teaching my first semester was stressful! I had a lot of information to prep in a short period of time and I was nervous that the students wouldn’t be interested in what I had to say. Overall, I learned a lot and got a lot of great ideas from my student on how to improve the next semester.
My family, husband, and puppy help keep me sane!
For young women starting their journey in forensics:
-Take advantage of any speaking classes or writing classes you can! It really helps with research and communicating your results to your peers, investigators, and juries.
-Try not to get a super specific undergraduate degree. This allows you to keep your options open and work in multiple areas of science.
-Get an internship if you can! You’ll get to see what you’d actually be doing every day and decide if it’s something you like!
-Don’t believe everything you see on TV or the internet for that matter. CSI is a great TV show, but it’s not reality.
Please tell us about your business.
I am a Criminalist III at the Boston Police Department Crime Laboratory and an Adjunct Instructor at Suffolk University.
Forensic science isn’t as glamorous as it’s often portrayed on television. We don’t drive a Hummer, and we don’t investigate every aspect of every case. If I was on CSI I’d respond to the crime scene, autopsy the victim, perform some testing, and then arrest the suspect! In the real world, I am a scientist, not a police officer. The majority of my time is spent in the laboratory examining items of evidence, such as clothing or victims, or at my desk writing reports. I examine items of evidence that were believed to be connected to a crime and look for biological substances, like blood, and trace evidence, for example, hairs or paint. At times, I also respond to crime scenes to collect evidence and testify in court as an expert witness.
I’m really excited about my new career at Suffolk teaching an Introduction to Forensic Science lecture. I hope to get my students more excited about science and see that it isn’t as unapproachable and scary as some people think. I also want my students to be informed about forensics so that they can be better-informed jurors someday!
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Don’t get discouraged in the beginning, and be flexible. Be patient, you might not start out doing exactly what you want. But, everyone needs to start at the bottom and work their way up. Volunteer for as many jobs or projects as you can, but only as many as you can handle. Try not to get caught up in office politics and drama! Try to find some balance and make sure that you still make time for yourself, friends, and family.
Image Credit:
Jennifer Sheehan
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