What is involved in the profession of forensic scientist?

It very much depends on what area of forensic science you're concerned with, there are many branches of the profession in which you can proceed in. For example, here are a few of the most known forensic science professions:

Forensic Pathologists : Perform autotopsies, and overall examines the organs, tissue, and bodily fluids for abnormalties in order to determine the cause of death.

Forensic Antropologists : Examine and collect bones to determine how a person died.

Forensic Etymologists : Deal with how insects in an environment can affect the decomposing process and how long a person's been dead based on the insects in/on/around the body. They usually take samples of insects from around the area, on the person, etc and examine them for their age and development.

Forensic Taphonomists : Deal with the fate of human remains, and are usually able to tell how long a person's been dead by the decompsing state of their body. Also examines how the conditions of an environment may affect the decomposing process such as weather, temperature, scavenging animals, etc. Usually involved with collecting data such as taking temperatures of the body and the area surrounding it over a period of time, recording climates, examining the area for animal markings, etc.

Forensic Toxicologists: Analyze the chemicals in the body for abnormalties in order to determine if drugs, pills, poison, etc were a leading cause in death. Usually work in a clinical setting.

Forensic Photographers : Are on the scene taking pictures from a variety of angles of the area of death.

Forensic Psychologists : Examine the motives behind the crime, and are involved with interviewing criminals.

Forensic Nursing: Deals with more of the legal aspects of forensic science by asissting in criminal prosecution cases, providing care to sexual assault victims, performing consultations with victims, victim's families, or families of the criminals, etc.