How do you know if a major in forensic science might be for you? For one, you find yourself fascinated by crime and have at least a basic interest in science. And two, you shadow and do an internship to really get hands-on in the field! That’s what Caelan Fisher and Shannon DeMatteis had the opportunity to do this past summer.

Caelan, of Andover, OH, had the opportunity to intern at The Central Ohio Regional Crime Lab in Newark. As an intern, Caelan basically functioned as a part of the team, getting a true in-depth look into the field. She assisted on approximately 50 cases, inputting evidence into the database, sampling and cataloguing over 130 fentanyl samples, and performing evidence management by organizing evidence submission by county and lab number.

This experience was invaluable to Caelan and she looks forward to using the skills she learned upon graduation, when she hopes to work in the Biology/DNA area of forensics. Caelan recommends students interested in forensic science get out of their comfort zone and keep their minds open to endless possibilities!

Shannon’s internship experience also gave her the final confirmation she needed that she was in the field she wanted to be in. Shannon, originally from Johnstown, PA, was always intrigued by criminals and their crimes and enjoyed watching crime shows on TV. She started college as a criminal justice major but realized it wasn’t the field for her and changed to forensic science.

This past summer, Shannon completed an internship at the Cambria County Coroner’s Office in her hometown. She accompanied the team to assist when any death occurred. She took pictures at the scene, helped to remove the body, and helped to fill out field reports by obtaining information from police, EMS, and the people who discovered the deceased. She also had the opportunity to observe a number of autopsies.

These experiences confirmed for Shannon that she had chosen the right path and she is excited to graduate and get into the field. She recommends any students interested in forensic science start off by shadowing to gain valuable insight and start making connections!