CSI Cañada: Preparing the Next Generation of Forensic Investigators

Since elementary school, Kira Havens was hooked on television shows that featured forensic investigators but she never considered pursuing forensics as a career. "The investigators on television were always middle-aged men and being a girl I got the impression that forensics wasn't a proper career for females."

That all changed when she began studying biology at Cañada College. "The professors at Cañada opened up a whole new world for me," said the Redwood City resident. "They took the time to work with me and encouraged me to pursue my dream."

Kira has been accepted to the prestigious University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland where she will study in the 4-year honors program in forensic biology. The school's Centre for Forensic Science provides training in forensic science to police, scientists and lawyers from over 35 countries and its portfolio of forensic casework and consultancy is international in scope and covers a wide range of specialist areas including DNA, bloodstain pattern analysis, trace evidence, fire investigation and drugs analysis.

"I would love to do an internship at Scotland Yard or one of the large research labs in Europe," Kira said. "I owe a lot of this to Cañada. The biology program is very intensive and the standards are high and the teachers pushed me to work hard. They really prepared me to take the next step towards a degree in forensic science."

Are you interested in a career in biology? Learn more by visiting the Cañada College Biology website.