Trinity Kirk Earns Professional Research Experience
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Examining bones and conducting research alongside her professor has given fourth-year student Trinity Kirk a feel for what it鈥檚 like to be a forensic anthropologist.
Kirk works as a research assistant for the Anthropology Department. Through the JOBS program at St. Thomas, she鈥檚 been able to work with forensic anthropologist and 黑料老司机 Anthropology professor Moira McLaughlin to apply what she鈥檚 learned in class to real-world scenarios.
鈥淚 love working with Professor McLaughlin,鈥漵aid Kirk. 鈥淭he job itself is great, because my overall objective was to apply what I was learning in real life.鈥
Kirk, who is pursuing a double major in Criminology and Psychology with a double minor in Forensic Anthropology and Irish Studies, said the experience has exceeded her expectations.
She said she鈥檚 enhanced her research skills and learned to properly sort animal bones for the anthropology lab鈥檚 collection of reference materials.
Kirk aspires to work with the justice system and said working with McLaughlin鈥攚ho鈥檚 become a mentor to her鈥攐n real cases has provided meaningful insight into what that might be like.
In addition to McLaughlin鈥檚 extensive knowledge of Forensic Anthropology, she has a great deal of experience using her expertise to help the RCMP work through cases. Kirk said this is something she can see herself doing someday.
鈥淚 definitely want to work within the police force or in prisons,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ither way, being able to do this kind of research is a key component of the kind of jobs I see myself pursuing.鈥
McLaughlin said the JOBS program greatly benefits students like Kirk when it comes to seeing how they can apply their degree after graduation.
鈥淭rinity has been able to gain research experience鈥攁nd life experience in terms of actually seeing the nitty gritty of life as a forensic anthropologist,鈥 McLaughlin said. 鈥淭his has allowed her to better see what is possible for her after graduation.鈥