Linda Alewijnse, Handwriting examiner at the NFI
From 2006 until 2008 I studied Forensic Science. Before that, I studied Biology at Leiden University. Biology was fun to study, but during those years I became more interested in doing something more relevant for society. This master’s programme was the perfect combination of theory and research. I liked the diversity of topics and the fact that lectures were given by forensic examiners themselves.
For my research project of the master’s programme, I analysed signature complexity, by setting up a formula to calculate the complexity of a signature with different parameters of that signature.
Without this master’s I would not have ended up with a job at the handwriting
department of the NFI, where I work now. I want to finish my training there and
become a certified forensic handwriting examiner.
To prepare well for a career I recommend students selecting their internship in
the field of interest and make sure to leave a good impression. Networking is
the key ingredient for a forensic job! Stay in touch with classmates, alumni and
professors after you've graduated, because they know about new job vacancies.