Internships / Shadowing / Tours

Internship Program and Shadow Experiences

The Westchester County Division of Forensic Sciences is pleased to offer internships or shadow opportunities to college students from the Tri-State area, as well as shadow opportunities for local high school students interested in pursuing a career in forensic science.  Details regarding eligibility are provided in the College and High School sections below.

Our Internship Program is designed for college students majoring in Forensic Science who require an internship as part of their core curriculum. Students in Forensic Science programs who do not require an internship, as well as students majoring in related laboratory sciences, may be considered based on availability.  Interns may have the opportunity to observe the analysis of physical evidence in the following areas: Forensic Biology (DNA), Trace Evidence, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Imaging.  Non-lab-related projects may be available on a very limited basis. Please note that we are unable to mentor or support students seeking research projects.

Our Shadow opportunity is a short-term observational experience for students at the High School level or above. Participants will shadow analysts in the Forensic Biology (DNA), Trace Evidence, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Imaging sections of the Division of Forensic Science Services.

College Students – Shadows

Our college shadow opportunity is for students who reside in Westchester County and are majoring in Forensic Science. It is specifically designed for those who do not need an internship to graduate and/or who have not yet had the chance to participate in one. Depending on availability, shadow opportunities take place over the course of one to two days over the summer months. To receive an application, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or after March 1^st.

College Students – Internships

The Forensic laboratory distributes internship applications to eligible college students twice per year for consideration during for winter intersession and summer breaks periods. 

Applicants must:

• be enrolled at a college or university within the Tri-State area (NY, CT, NJ) or reside in NYS
• be pursuing an undergraduate degree
• be enrolled in school during the term of the internship
• be in at least their Junior year at the time they are requesting an application
• be in good academic standing
• be enrolled in an eligible major

Eligible Majors for the Forensic Laboratory Internship Program
To qualify for the Westchester County Forensic Laboratory Internship Program, students must be enrolled in a laboratory based Forensic or natural science major. Eligible programs include those that provide substantial hands on lab coursework in areas such as:

Note: Each major may include a different combination of these courses.

Majors Not Considered Closely Related
The following do not meet the laboratory science requirements and are not eligible, even if they include a forensic concentration:

These fields do not provide the necessary natural science laboratory coursework.

Westchester County residents will receive priority consideration.

To receive an application, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or after the date above.  In your email, please include:

• the college or university that you attend
• your major
• your academic year
• the town and state of your permanent address

Once we receive your completed application, you will be sent a confirmation email. A follow‑up email regarding the status of your application will be sent in approximately one to two months depending on when distribution of applications ends.

If you have any questions or need further information regarding the internship program, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will respond as promptly as possible.

High School Students – Shadows Only

There are no internship opportunities for high school students. Shadow opportunities are:

• for one day from 9 a.m. to 1p.m.
• occur once per month during the academic school year
• on a first come, first serve basis

Applicants must:

• reside in and attend school within Westchester County, NY
• be in their junior or senior year

If you are interested in a shadowing opportunity or have questions, contact the laboratory at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and include:

• the name of your high school
• the town of your permanent address
• your current grade level

Additional requirements for interns and shadows

Information for Interns and Student Visitors

If you are accepted for an internship or shadowing experience in the lab, there are a few requirements you’ll need to complete before you can begin.

1. Buccal (Cheek Swab) Sample

You will need to provide a simple cheek swab. This is done by rubbing a cotton swab on the inside of your cheek to collect cells.

Why this is required:

• Our analysts work with DNA evidence from real cases.
• To make sure none of the evidence is accidentally contaminated by anyone in the lab, we create a DNA profile from your cheek swab.
• Your profile is only used as a quality control check to make sure your DNA has not accidentally contaminated any evidence.

Important details:

• Your DNA profile will be stored only in the lab’s internal staff database.
• It will not be shared with law enforcement, the district attorney, or any outside agency.
• Your profile will be scheduled for deletion six months after your last day in the lab.
• If you want confirmation that it has been deleted, you can request to be notified.

2. Confidentiality & Conflict of Interest Agreement

You will also be required to sign a form agreeing to:

• Keep all case information confidential.
• Avoid any conflicts of interest while you are in the lab.

This is standard practice in forensic laboratories to protect sensitive information.

If you have any questions regarding the buccal sample and/or the agreement, please put them in the questions/comments section of the application.

Tours

The Division of Forensic Sciences offers guided tours of the county's Forensic Laboratory. These tours are typically provided to local legal entities (such as prosecutors and defense attorneys), local colleges, and Westchester County high schools. Due to staffing and casework demands, the laboratory must limit both the number of tours and the number of participants per tour. Larger groups may be asked to create smaller groups for visits on separate days.  The laboratory does not accommodate individual tours.  

To request a tour, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include the following in your email:

• preferred date(s) and time(s)
• your institution name and address
• the total amount of participants
• the mode of transportation (for parking coordination)

A coordinator will respond to your request.