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Student Resources

Forensic Science students at Saint Louis University are encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities that round out their education.

Internships

All Forensic Science Majors at SLU have the ability to participate in an immersive internship experience with one of our local, state, or national partners while earning course credit.

Forensic Science Students participate in internships throughout the St Louis region and throughout the country.  Students have participated in internships in DNA analysis, Drug Chemistry, Fingerprints, Crime Scene Investigation, Death Investigation, Digital Forensics, Forensic Toxicology, Intelligence Units, Forensic Pathology, Forensic Anthropology, and more.

Local Student Internship Sites

  • St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Crime Laboratory
  • SLU/St. Louis County Forensic Toxicology Laboratory
  • St. Louis City Medical Examiner’s Office
  • St. Louis City Intelligence Unit
  • St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office
  • St. Louis County Forensic Anthropologist
  • United Data Connect, Investigative Genetic Genealogy
  • U.S. Courts Digital Forensics Laboratory
  • Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory
  • Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit
  • Madison County Illinois Coroner’s Office
  • Missing Persons/Cold Case Unit

Internship Requirements

Forensic Science majors are required to either complete a formal internship or research in order to complete their degree requirements. Internships are generally at least 100 hours of time spent at the internship site.  

What Students Are Saying

Our research project compares the DNA yield of two different brands of spin baskets used for DNA analysis. We completed the first three steps of the analysis process (sampling, extraction, and quantification) to determine the differences, if any, between the two spin baskets and how they perform in terms of collecting DNA. It's really great to be hands-on and experience the process that's done in DNA labs.

Rosslyn Garbarni and Hannah Hellmeier

Research Opportunities

All Forensic Science Majors at SLU have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working alongside one of our faculty members in exciting and cutting edge research. 

Recent Student Research Projects

  • Production of Ethanol in Infant Bottles During Storage, Kathryn Piette (Add PDF)
  • How Presumptive Testing Affects DNA Profiles, Stella Henline and Jaila Robinson (Add PDF)
  • Investigating Changes in Fingerprints After Water Submission, Lanae Headley (Add PDF)

What Students Are Saying

Our research project compares the DNA yield of two different brands of spin baskets used for DNA analysis. We completed the first three steps of the analysis process (sampling, extraction, and quantification) to determine the differences, if any, between the two spin baskets and how they perform in terms of collecting DNA. It's really great to be hands-on and experience the process that's done in DNA labs.

Rosslyn Garbarni and Hannah Hellmeier

Program Awards

James D. Collins Outstanding Student Award Recipients - Nicole Orphan (2024), Kaitlynn Schantz (2023), Blake Sparkman (2022)

Forensic Science Student Award - Emma Mathes (2024), Sruthi Ainapurapu (2023), Victoria Parish (2022), Hunter Chamma (2021), Maren Angela (2020), Kelsie Garbutt (2019), Rahul Sinha (2018), Amit Prayaga (2017), Lydia Conkin (2016), Kayla Hoerschgen (2015)

Student Groups

Forensic Science Club

We share a passion for crime scene investigation, evidence collection and analysis, fingerprinting, detective work, death investigation, pathology, forensic biology, forensic chemistry, and more. Our mission is to evoke interest in the field of forensic science, host activities that foster this knowledge, debunk misconceptions of forensic science seen in popular media, encourage the dissemination of information about the emerging field to the general population at Saint Louis University, provide resources and networking opportunities for students, and to assist in the growth and outreach of the Forensic Science Academic Department. The club is open to all SLU students.  The FS major or minor is not required to join.

Link to SLeUth https://slu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/forensics

Forensic Science Honor Society

Alpha Lambda is the Saint Louis University chapter of Delta Delta Epsilon, the national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging excellence in scholarship in the Forensic Sciences. Its mission is to: 

  • promote scholarship and encourage intellectual development for students and professionals
  • confer distinction for high achievement
  • promote leadership development
  • stimulate student and faculty dialogue
  • enrich the intellectual environment of higher education institutions
  • encourage high standards of practice and ethical behavior
  • promote attitudes of professional responsibility for the public good

To qualify for membership, you must meet the following criteria: 

  1. You must be a FRSC MAJOR.  
  2. You must have completed at least 28 of the 74 credit hours required for the major.  NOTE: if you are a transfer student, 7.25 of the 28 credit minimum must have been taken at SLU
  3. You must have a general GPA of at least 3.2.
  4. You must have a FRSC GPA of at least 3.4