Forensic Anthropologist Career Start

I'm really fascinated by forensic anthropology and thinking about it as a career path. What's the first job like in this field? Does it mostly involve lab work or fieldwork? Thanks in advance!

In entering the field of forensic anthropology, your first job can really vary depending on where you decide to begin your career. Some start in academic jobs where they might mix teaching, research, and casework. Others may start working for a medical examiner or coroner's office, a museum, or for various archaeological, anthropological, or forensic scientific corporations.

If you start in an academic environment, your day-to-day job will probably involve some combination of teaching classes, doing research (either in the lab on human remains, in the field collecting skeletal remains, or working on your computer doing data analysis or writing), and possibly casework (conducting forensic analyses and writing reports on the forensic cases you are asked to consult on).

Suppose you start in a non-academic setting like a medical examiner coroner's office or a private company. In that case, your job will likely involve more application of forensic anthropology, so there will be more casework and less teaching and research. The amount of fieldwork versus lab work can also be quite variable, but in many instances forensic anthropologists spend a lot more time in the lab than in the field.

Most of your time would typically be spent in a lab, analyzing skeletal remains and writing reports. This does not mean you would not have the opportunity to go out into the field as this is often a part of the role when there is a need to recover human remains. Overall, the distribution between lab work and field work will largely depend on your specific role and where you're employed.

Remember that before you fully embark on this career, you will need to demonstrate a high level of educational commitment. This area of work is highly specialized and requires a substantial educational background, most prominently a graduate degree. Plan on several years of intensive study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels if you wish to pursue this path. However, the benefit is that it's a uniquely captivating field that combines scientific rigor with humanistic curiosity. Good luck!