Forensic Science Unpaid Internship

Job Description

About the Job: Unpaid Forensic Science Internship

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Date Opened: Thursday, February 05, 2026 12:00 AM
Close Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026 12:00 AM
Department: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Salary: $0.00 – $0.00 Commensurate with Experience (This is an unpaid internship)

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte, America’s Queen City, is a diverse and inclusive community for residents, businesses, and visitors. It is a safe, family-oriented city where people collaborate to ensure everyone thrives. The City of Charlotte’s mission is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our Guiding Principles Include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development
• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services
• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems
• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

Summary

This unpaid internship is designed for students either graduating with or currently pursuing a 4-year degree in Forensic Science or a related field. It offers exposure to real-world forensic and investigative work within criminal investigations. Interns will observe and gain insight into the forensic and investigative roles of CMPD Crime Scene Investigators, developing an understanding of both technical forensic skills and the practical application of a forensic mindset. This opportunity emphasizes how forensic principles are applied in active investigations, focusing on accuracy, critical thinking, and professional standards.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

Interns will be responsible for:

• Maintaining issued equipment and following safety protocols at crime scenes.
• Proper use, maintenance, necessary replacement, and security of all personally issued and shared equipment, ensuring operational readiness.
• Proper documentation, routing, and dissemination of all messages and information as received.
• Working with decomposing corpses, body fluids, contagious diseases, hazardous materials, heavy objects, and various standard and unique equipment and tools.
• Processing crime scenes any time of the day and in all types of weather conditions.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Interns will observe current CMPD Crime Scene Technicians fulfilling the following Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Combining science, technology, and expertise to analyze and investigate all property crime types, violent, and complex crime scenes in a systematic and legal manner. The goal is the identification, documentation, collection, and preservation of physical evidence.
• Documenting crime scenes and evidence through basic, advanced/manual (ALS and Bluestar), macro, and 1:1 examination quality photography techniques.
• Completing hand-drawn sketches/diagrams.
• Preparing detailed and accurate crime scene reports for use by officers/detectives in criminal investigations and court testimony.
• Latent Print Processing: Evaluating and processing scenes and diverse items/surfaces for latent fingerprints/shoeprints, or other types of pattern evidence.
• Analyzing scenes to identify, process, and collect touch DNA, blood evidence, seminal or other biological fluid evidence.
• Using specialized equipment and procedures to determine the presence of blood, seminal fluids/body fluids, hair, fibers, gunshot residue, and other trace evidence and materials.
• Preparing and packaging evidence while maintaining its integrity and chain of custody for storage and further processing by the Crime Lab.
• Processing living victims, witnesses, and suspects to document injuries/lack of injuries, and identify, document, and collect any relevant evidence found.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science or a related field.
• Maintain a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Possesses scientific proficiency in multiple disciplines, including mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.
• Keen observational skills and an eye for minute detail.
• Ability to develop knowledge of principles, methods, equipment, and current techniques used in crime scene investigations and forensics.
• Ability to develop knowledge of investigative and laboratory techniques.
• Ability to develop thorough knowledge of evidence chain of custody procedures and requirements.
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, and agency practices and procedures.
• Ability to exercise initiative and consistently use independent sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive and unique situations, determining and deciding upon procedures, setting priorities, maintaining standards, and resolving problems.
• Ability to work in often stressful, fast-paced environments.
• Ability to cope, maintain composure, and work effectively when dealing with difficult and traumatic scenes.
• Superior organizational and time management skills and the ability to multi-task and work with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to be adaptable and innovative with problem-solving and general crime scene processing.
• Possesses analytical sensibilities, excellent critical thinking skills, active listening/active learning abilities.
• Ability to follow oral and written procedures and policies.
• Ability to read and comprehend authoritative directives, laws, and ordinances.

ADA And Other Requirements

Positions in this class typically require grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Further physical demands include stooping, squatting, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and pushing.

Physical Requirements

• Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical conditions necessary for sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods of time.
• Some crouching, stooping, squatting, kneeling, crawling, reaching, twisting, turning, bending, climbing, pushing, and pulling when performing daily activities.
• The nature of the work requires incumbents to use ladders and be able to climb steps, stairs, and ladders while carrying necessary equipment.
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity and excellent hand/eye coordination.

Sensory Requirements

• Concentrated and attentive use of one or more senses (visual, audio, and other sensory modalities) for proofreading, data entry, and tabulating data.
• Ability to operate in an environment with frequent interruptions from people and/or noises, which could result in some level of stress, fatigue, or strain.
• Comprehend written information in work-related documents.
• Ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech.

Working Conditions

• All types of indoor and outdoor environments.
• Works under unfavorable conditions including exposure to extreme heat or cold, rain, humidity, other harsh weather conditions, unpleasant odors, inadequate or no lighting, loud noises, and vibrations.
• May require work in confined and precarious places with movement restrictions, heights, unstable footing, rooftops, streams/ponds, and other various terrains.
• Frequent exposure to bloodborne pathogens, chemicals, allergenic substances, narcotics, mold, fumes of decomposing human remains, and other health hazards.
• Regularly handles and packages biohazardous fluids and materials.
• Diligent use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to limit exposure to bloodborne pathogens is required.
• Exposure to disruptive people or a threatening environment.

Conditions Of Employment

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks for all final candidates. Information collected may include: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry, and motor vehicle records check. These checks comply with federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Final candidates must also pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior. Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

How To Apply

• Apply online.
• Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please inform us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
• Self-service application kiosks are available at the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.
• For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
• The City of Charlotte is committed to making its services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

Benefits

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. For more information, please refer to the City of Charlotte’s benefits page.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.