BCA Lab Epstein – Rhoads Internship Program
PURPOSE
To provide an internship experience for college students interested in entering the field of forensic science. This program offers students an opportunity for observation of forensic scientists at their work, as well as involvement in working on an assigned laboratory project.
ELIGIBILITY
Students must be in their junior or senior year in college, or in graduate school, pursuing a degree in Forensic Science, Criminalistics, Biology, Chemistry or equivalent. Desired casework includes:
- Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Quantitative Analysis
- Qualitative Analysis
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Instrumental Analysis
- Physical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Physics
- Calculus
- Statistics
DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM
The 10-16 week non-paid internship program will require each student to complete an assigned project with a laboratory staff member consisting of an extensive literature review, laboratory experimentation and research, compilation of data, and an oral presentation.
Examples of laboratory projects include:
- Establish quantitation procedures for controlled substances
- Determine variability in accelerants found in fire debris
- Develop new analytical technique.
- Evaluate DNA analytical procedures.
Available laboratory locations:
- St. Paul

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Forensic Science Services – St. Paul
1430 Maryland Avenue E
St. Paul, Minnesota 55106
Phone: (651) 793-2900
Fax: (651) 793-2901
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Forensic Science Services – Bemidji
3700 N. Norris Court NW
Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Phone: (218) 755-3826
Fax: (218) 751-2027
Internships are five days a week Monday through Friday during normal work hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Some flexibility is possible to accommodate class or outside work schedules.
Candidates who best fit the needs of the laboratory will be interviewed no later than six weeks after the application deadline.
No financial assistance is available.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAM DEADLINES
Students must submit the following items:
Applications must be received by:
- Spring internship: January through May
Application deadline: Last Friday in October
- Summer internship: June through August
Application deadline: Last Friday in March
- Fall internship: September through December
Application deadline: Last Friday in May