SSRP Abstract

Board 32: FBI Honors Internship

Student Scientist: Kayla Rush ’23
Supervisor: Brian Fagan, Supervisory Special Agent (Department of Justice, FBI, Quantico, VA)

I took part in a ten week internship with the laboratory division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I worked with the Evidence Response Team Unit. They work to train teams in all the FBI’s field offices to ensure evidence is collected and processed in a way that is consistent and able to be analyzed successfully by the laboratory. I was able to observe classes in a variety of forensic disciplines like fingerprinting, hazmat chemistry, crime scene photography and biological threat detection. I was able to observe all of the forensic analyses that the lab is capable of performing like DNA, finger and latent prints, trace evidence like hairs and fibers and toxicology. I saw and learned something new everyday and got both a laboratory and agent/field perspective of the work of the FBI. Some projects I completed were assisting with the production and translation of materials for an international training program, analyzing and inputting data to ensure all hazmat certified staff are eligible to go downrange and designing an informational display board to highlight everything that the unit does. In order to obtain this internship, after the application and interview process I had to undergo a polygraph examination, security interview, and a thorough background check which spanned 6 months to receive a top secret security clearance. I will continue my service into the school year working part time at the local Columbus office.