Euro opportunity for forensic scientists

Scientists from the University of Wolverhampton have been given the opportunity to work at some of Europe’s top forensic institutes through a new internship scheme.

The School of Applied Sciences has secured more than £75,000 (€95,500) for the graduate internship scheme from the Leonardo da Vinci Mobility Programme.

The aim is to provide 18 Forensic Science graduates with real work experience in a forensic institute to improve their employability skills.

The scheme enables 2011 and 2012 graduates from the University who are seeking employment to apply for a three or six month internship in one of five forensic science institutes in the European Union.

The partner institutes are in the Netherlands and Poland, and specialise in areas such as analysis of fingerprints, toxicology and documents.

Dr Iza Radecka, the project coordinator, said: “The interns will have the opportunity to work in some the best forensic laboratories in Europe. All the EU partners perform research in the field of the forensic science and are involved in drawing up expert reports for courts and prosecutor’s offices and barristers in penal and civil cases on a national and international level.

“The scheme is intended to offer EU graduates who are seeking employment the opportunity to undertake vocationally relevant forensic experience within a partner EU country.

" Dr Raul Sutton, Head of the Department of Forensic and Molecular Science, said: “Although the placement is intended for all University of Wolverhampton Forensic Science graduates, recent recruitment data shows that over two thirds of the University’s forensic science graduates live within the West Midlands region and therefore this scheme will directly benefit regional graduate employability.”

The vacancies will be advertised during this month (June 2012) and in June 2013. Nine graduates will complete the placements from October 2012 to March 2013 and a further nine from October 2013 to March 2014.

UK universities produce currently 6,000 forensic graduates each year according to the Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA), but the Forensic Science sector recruits about 200 graduates a year, so there is strong competition for jobs.

University of Wolverhampton forensic science students and graduates can contact Dr Sutton R.Sutton@wlv.ac.uk for more information.