| Undergrad & Graduate Science Students
DNA Academy Director W. Mark Dale is the former director of the New York State Police Laboratory System. In collaboration with the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center, and with the support of Senator Charles Schumer, he has brought his decades of experience in the New York State crime labs to this innovative and efficient curriculum.
Graduates of the Academy are uniquely well-prepared to enter a field that is rapidly expanding.
- New legislation is continually increasing categories for convicted offender databases.
- A recent study by the University of Albany estimates that an additional 9,000 forensic scientists will be required across the nation to handle an ever-expanding databank of DNA samples.
- Academy graduates are “bench ready” in six months, as opposed to the 18 to 24 months under traditional apprenticeship methods of accreditation.
- Credit earned at the Academy can be applied to other graduate programs.
DNA Academy graduates have enhanced career opportunities. Student assistantships give the student hands-on experience at the administrative level.
The DNA Academy provides a 12-week, 12-graduate credit hour program. This reduces by at least 75% the usual 12- to 18-month mentor training in forensic science.
Fields of Study
Academy students choose between three fields of expertise:
- DNA Casework
- Serology
- DNA Data Bank
 Each of these 12-week courses utilizes the DNA Academy’s dedicated facilities, including the newest software and state-of-the-art equipment.
Each course concludes with a “Moot Court,” in which students receive essential training in how to communicate complex evidentiary information to juries. The New York Prosecutors Training Institute provides instruction, taping, and critique for this integral element of your education as a forensic scientist.
Faculty
W. Mark Dale has assembled some of the finest professionals in the field to lead the Academy’s students in their coursework and labwork.
To Learn More
View a complete calendar of current DNA Academy course offerings.
An online application form is also available.
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"I am very pleased and fortunate to have this opportunity with NERFI. I am able to work part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer. Not only do I have administrative assistant duties, but I am also gaining valuable experience in a forensic lab."
"Having the opportunity of employment at NERFI has been a great asset and gateway for my forensics career. Working here while being in the Forensic Molecular Biology program at University at Albany has helped me to apply what I am learning as I am learning it. I also have the chance to work closely with the faculty within the institute who provide invaluable resources and knowledge about the field. I feel that I will enter the workforce with an advantage due to my experience at NERFI