Valerie Thomas
329 O’Connor Road
North Babylon, NY 11703
(631)-667-5597
[email protected]
Where I would like to work?
Company Name:
FBI laboratory division
Location:
Marine Corps base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia
What is your desired position?
Forensic Anthropologist
What is the description of the position?
A forensic anthropologist studies the bones of a victim an assist in determining the time and
cause of death. You can determine their gender, age, physical stature, and their race. You can
assist in identifying a deceased individual whose remains are decomposed or burned, etc.
What are the duties/job responsibilities of the position?
Forensic Anthropologists deal strictly with the human remains. They analyze the remains and bones. In a
case the forensic anthropologist goes to the come scene to collect the human remains. They then clean
up the bones so they are able to be looked at. They analyze the skeletal remains to establish the profile of
the individual. They look at trauma evident on the bones to establish the pathway of a bullet or the
number of stab wounds, etc. They also work with forensic odontologists to match dental records. Forensic
anthropologist may have to testify in court about the identity of the individual or the injuries that might
be evident in the skeleton.
What are the requirements/prerequisites/ qualifications/ credentials for the position?
To become a forensic anthropologist you must go to an accredited four year college to get a bachelor’s
degree in anthropology or a degree in a close related field such as biology. After that you need to get your
master’s in anthropology. After that you may want to get your PhD in physical anthropology. While you
are still getting your education after you get your bachelor’s degree it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take the
opportunity to gain experience by assisting forensic anthropologists in casework. This will help you get a
job when you are done with your education because you are creating a connection. After you get your
PhD, there is still additional training you must complete. You can work at forensic facilities around the
country. You can perform research in addition to case work. You work closely with medical examiners and
forensic pathologists.
Starting and median or average salary:
Starting salary: $42,500
Median salary: $85,000
Sources:
http://fac.utk.edu/forensic.html
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/august-2010/forensicupdate#diablemobile