2026 Summer Internship - SSB / FSD / Bridgeport Laboratory

Full Job Description

Internship Start Date: May 2026

A semester-long internship with the MSP Bridgeport Forensic Laboratory will offer exposure to multiple disciplines of forensic science.

The program will expose students to evidence handling, chain of custody, and the specific functions of each discipline to demonstrate how those processes aid in criminal investigations.

This program will be without monetary inducement and for academic class credit in accordance with LOM 1.13 (Interns and Volunteers). It will be the responsibility of the internship candidate to ensure that they receive academic credit for their experience.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) is a full-service policing agency with statewide jurisdiction, providing over 60 different services either directly to Michigan residents or in support of other law enforcement agencies. The MSP personnel most visible to the public are the uniform troopers whose primary responsibilities include traffic enforcement, crime prevention and investigation, and community engagement and service.

Requirements

At the time of internship, must be currently enrolled in a undergraduate or graduate program.

Qualifications

Please enter any Alternate requirements.

Additional Information

Candidates for the internship program at the Bridgeport Forensic Laboratory will meet the following requirements:

• College junior or senior with a degree track in a natural or physical science
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Citizen of the United States at the time of application
• Has a valid operator’s or chauffeur’s license without restrictions (except corrective lenses)
• Does not have a history of criminal convictions or excessive civil infraction violations
• Ability to pass a controlled substances screening
• Has completed the Hepatitis B vaccination series by the start of the program
• Ability to pass a fingerprint check
• Ability to comply with a confidentiality agreement

Application Process:

Interested candidates who meet the aforementioned requirements should initiate the application process the semester prior to the semester they wish to participate in the internship program.

The number of candidates selected per semester may vary and is contingent upon the capabilities and staffing of the laboratory at that time.

1. Interested candidates can initiate the application process by locating the appropriate job posting at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/michigan. Candidates should contact the Bridgeport Forensic Laboratory directly if they experience any difficulty locating a posting.
2. The candidate shall submit their application via NEOGOV and ensure it contains the following completed forms and necessary materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
   1. CJIS-008 – Background Check Request
   2. PD-039 (Application for Internship)
   3. PD-037 (Agreement for Provision of Unpaid Student Services to the Michigan)
   4. Cover Letter
   5. Resume
   6. Letter of Reference (from a college faculty member)

All application materials will be reviewed by the Internship Coordinator.

Candidates who are selected to proceed beyond the initial screening process will be contacted to schedule a formal interview with a panel of laboratory staff.Dependent upon the volume of candidates, additional screening interviews (via phone or Microsoft Teams) may be conducted prior to formal interviews.

3. All candidates who take place in an interview will be notified of their selection status. If selected to participate in the program, acceptance is contingent upon the ability to pass a background check and controlled substances screening.

The supplemental questions shall be used in conjunction with the , and PD-037 (Agreement for Provision of Unpaid Student Services to the Michigan Department of State Police).

All students applying for an internship program with the MSP Forensic Science Division shall answer all provided questions and attach/submit the completed PD-039 and PD-037, a resume, and a signed cover letter to the Internship posting you are interested in pursuing.

Internship Program Schedule:

The order of forensic disciplines is subject to change based on staff availability and scheduling.

The weeks dedicated to Evidence Receiving and the Case Capstone Project/Presentation will remain consistent with the above proposed schedule.

A finalized schedule will be determined by the Internship Coordinator (in collaboration with the Unit Supervisors) and provided to the intern(s) at the start of the program.

Week 1 – Evidence Receiving / Laboratory Orientation / Laboratory Safety and Security

Week 2 – Body Fluid identification Unit Observations

Week 3 – Trace Evidence Unit Observations

Week 4 – Controlled Substances Unit Observations

Week 5 – Firearms and Toolmarks Unit Observations

Week 6 – Latent Print Unit Observations

Week 7 – Body Fluid identification Unit Observations

Week 8 – Trace Evidence Unit Observations

Week 9 – Controlled Substances Unit Observations

Week 10 – Firearms and Toolmarks Unit Observations

Week 11 – Latent Print Unit Observations

Week 12 – Research Presentation

The academic schedule of the selected candidates will be taken into consideration when determining the internship schedule. Candidates can expect to dedicate 5-8 hours per week to the program.

Discipline Observation Objectives:

• Provide a detailed overview of the laboratory analyses conducted by the discipline.
• Introduce all members of the discipline and discuss their role(s) within the unit.
• Discuss applicable safety considerations of the discipline.
• Demonstrate examples of the various analyses conducted within the discipline through casework observations and/or mock examples.
• Review previous cases that demonstrate how the specific type of forensic evidence has aided investigations.
• Explain and demonstrate the use of databases, where applicable.

Research Project:

The intern will research a topic related to forensic science and present the topic to laboratory staff. Laboratory staff will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback at the conclusion of the presentation.

Official Transcripts:

As part of the application process, please upload an unofficial or official copy as an attachment. If offered an internship opportunity with the State of Michigan an official copy will be requested.

The State of Michigan has been recognized as a leading U.S. employer by new graduates from 2021-2023 and a best large U.S. and state employer. Recognized on the international stage for fostering positive employee engagement, the State of Michigan is a past recipient of a North America Government Agency Employees Engagement Award.