Forensic  Toxicology:  

Career  Choices  and  Development  

Barry  Logan  Ph.D,  DABFT  2013-­‐14  President,  AAFS  

NMS  Labs  &  Center  for  Forensic  Science  Research  

and  EducaNon  Willow  Grove,  PA  

 

Michele  (Shelly)  Merves  Ph.D.,  DABFT  Assistant  Laboratory  Director-­‐  

Toxicology  Pinellas  County  Forensic  Lab  

Largo,  FL    

Karen  ScoU  Ph.D,  MRSC,    C.  Chem.,  C.  Sci.  

Associate  Professor,  Forensic  Science  Arcadia  University  

Glenside,  PA    

Forensic  Toxicology  Answers  the  QuesNon:        Did  Alcohol  or  Drugs,  Cause  or  Contribute  to,  this  Person’s  Death  

or  IntoxicaNon?  

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PracNce  Areas  

•  Human  performance  – Driving  – Post  Crash  – Drug  Facilitated  Sexual  Assault  

•  Death  InvesNgaNon  •  Regulated  •  High  throughput  vs  less  casework/complex  (interpretaNon)  

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Forensic  Toxicology  

Analy&cal    Interpre&ve  

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AnalyNcal  Toxicology  •  Understanding  the  chemistry  of  the  analyte.  •  Knowing  the  capabiliNes  of  various  analyNcal  pla^orms  (i.e.  how  instruments  work).  

•  Understanding  Quality  Management  requirements.  •  Understanding  data  evaluaNon  and  assessment.  •  Applying  insight  into  working  with  problemaNc  specimens.  

•  Understanding  method  development  and  opNmizaNon.  

•  Performing  method  validaNon.  SM

InterpreNve  Toxicology  •  Understanding  the  source  of  the  sample  and  its  limitaNons.  

•  Understanding  how  the  result  was  obtained  and  its  limitaNons.  

•  Thorough  familiarity  with  the  published  literature  on  drug  concentraNons.  

•  Knowing  the  therapeuNc,  toxic  and  potenNally  fatal  outcomes  associated  with  different  toxins.  

•  RelaNng  laboratory  findings  to  invesNgaNve,  autopsy,  and  cogniNve  and  behavioral  findings.  

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Key  Competencies  •  Chemistry  –  Organic,  Physical,  AnalyNcal  

•  Anatomy  and  Physiology  •  Pharmacology  –  Pharmacodynamics,  PharmacokineNcs,  Metabolomics  

•  Psychology  –  Psychomotor  Performance,  CogniNon  and  Behavior  

•  CommunicaNons  – WriUen,  Spoken,  CriNcal  reading  

•  Research  BL

Is  this  the  right  career  for  you?  

•  Character  Traits:  – Love  Science  – Really  Love  Chemistry  – Broad  interest  in  mulNple  disciplines  – Excited  about  communicaNon  – Strong  stomach  – AUenNon  to  detail  – Open  mindedness  and  fairness  

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Where  do  Forensic  Toxicologists  Work?  

•  Government  Laboratories:  – Public  Health,  Police/Public  Safety,  AUorney  General,  Prosecutor,  Medical  Examiner/Coroner,  Military  

•  Academic  Laboratories:  – Laboratory  medicine,  Pathology,  Toxicology  

•  Private  Laboratories:  – Forensic  and  clinical  laboratories,  military  contractors  

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A  Typical  Days  Work…  •  Receive,  inspect,  process  and  accession  specimens  for  tesNng.  

•  Review  case  histories  or  requests  for  tesNng.  •  Assemble  batches  of  samples  from  alcohol  tesNng  and  drug  screening.  

•  Review  screening  results,  and  order  confirmatory  tesNng.    

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A  Typical  Days  Work…  •  Perform  instrument  maintenance  and  set-­‐up.  •  Batch  and  extract  samples  for  confirmatory  tesNng.  

•  Analyze  and  review  data  from  chromatographic  tesNng.  

•  Batch  and  extract  samples  for  quanNtaNve  tesNng.  

•  Review  all  data  in  the  context  of  the  case  and  generate  a  report.  

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A  Typical  Days  Work…  •  Develop  or  validate  new  methods.  •  Review  QC  data.  •  Research  interpreNve  data  to  prepare  a  report.  •  Discuss  case  and  opinion  tesNmony  with  aUorneys  and  invesNgators.  

•  TesNfy  in  Court  or  at  DeposiNon.  •  AUend  training.  •  Obtain/maintain  CerNficaNon(s)  

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Becoming  a  Toxicologist  •  Three  stages:  – High  school  – Undergraduate  degree  – Graduate  degree(s)  

•  Important  to  keep  opNons  open  

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Becoming  a  Toxicologist  •  High  School:  – Chemistry,  Biology,  Physics  – English  – Math  &  StaNsNcs  – Experience  in  public  speaking/presenNng  – Highest  level  of  Chemistry,  Biology,  Math  will  facilitate  undergraduate  learning  

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Becoming  a  Toxicologist  •  Undergraduate:  – Course  choices  could  include:  

•  Organic  Chemistry,  AnalyNcal  Chemistry,  Biochemistry,  Toxicology,  Biology,  Pharmacology,  WriNng,  BiostaNsNcs,  Research  

– Degree  opNons  include:  •  Chemistry,  Biology,  Forensic  Science,  Biochemistry  •  Must  be  in  a  Natural  Science  •  Accelerated  programs  available  

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Becoming  a  Toxicologist  •  Graduate:  – MS  and  PhD  programs  available  – MS  need  not  be  track  selected  but  should  include    

•  Instrumental  Analysis,  preferably  analysis  of  biological  samples  and  Pharmacology  •  Forensic  Chemistry  or  Forensic  Science  •  Allows  entry  to  labs  at  a  higher  level  than  with  just  degree  

– No  bespoke  PhD  programs  in  US  at  present  •  Senior  level  entry  posiNons  

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Forensic  Science  v  TradiNonal  Science  Degrees  

•  Both  are  acceptable  •  FS  UG  or  MS  degree  includes  addiNonal  benefits  of  courses  in  law,  ethics,  quality  management  

•  Same  core  subjects  (chemistry/biology)  should  be  covered  but  with  FS  applicaNon  

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FEPAC  

•  Forensic  Science  EducaNon  Programs  AccreditaNon  Commission  

•  Maintains  and  enhances  the  quality  of  forensic  science  educaNon  through  a  formal  evaluaNon  and  recogniNon  of  college-­‐level  academic  programs.    

•  BS  and  MS  programs  are  accredited    

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Your  First  Job  •  Gehng  Hired  – Understand  the  material,  don’t  just  memorize  it.  – Be  AcNve  in  Undergrad  and  Grad  School.  – Research  and  Internships.  –  Join,  volunteer,  read,  tutor.  – Have  a  broad  knowledge  of  the  State  of  Forensic  Science.  

– Be  flexible.  

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Your  Ideal  Job  •  Service  Work?  •  Research?  •  Management?  •  Technical  Supervision?  •  Teaching?  

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Building  Your  Resume  •  Consider  Graduate  School.  •  ParNcipate  in  Professional  OrganizaNons.  •  ParNcipate  in  Young  Forensic  ScienNst  Groups.  •  Network,  collaborate,  visit  other  labs.  •  Seek  out  training.  •  Seek  CerNficaNon.  •  Find  a  mentor.  

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Professional  OrganizaNons  •  Join  AAFS,  SOFT,  SWAT,  CAT,  TIAFT,  etc.  •  AUend  their  meeNngs.  •  Volunteer  to  help  with  meeNngs.  •  Volunteer  and  parNcipate  in  commiUees.  •  Present  at  professional  meeNngs:  – Pla^orm/Poster  

•  Write  for  newsleUers.  

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CerNficaNon  •  Requirements  for  Diplomate  status:  D-­‐ABFT  – Earned  Doctorate  – Adequate  undergraduate  and  graduate  educaNon  in  biology,  chemistry,  and  pharmacology  or  toxicology  .  

– 3  years  post  doctoral  experience  in  toxicology  or  closely  related  disciplines,  including  pracNce,  research,  teaching,  administraNon.  

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CerNficaNon  •  Requirements  for  Diplomate  status:  – Applicants  are  required  to  document  a  record  of  appropriate  professional  acNviNes  in  forensic  toxicology.  

– Applicants  must  be  engaged  in  the  pracNce  of  forensic  toxicology  at  the  Nme  of  applicaNon  for  CerNficaNon.    

– Comprehensive  wriUen  examinaNons  based  upon  broad  principles  of  toxicology    

– Submit  evidence  of  conNnuing  professional  educaNon  every  year.  BL

CerNficaNon  •  Requirements  for  Specialist  status:  FTS-­‐ABFT  – Earned  Bachelors  degree  – Adequate  undergraduate  and  graduate  educaNon  in  biology,  chemistry,  and  pharmacology  or  toxicology  .  

– 3  years  post  graduaNon  experience  in  toxicology  or  closely  related  disciplines,  including  pracNce,  research,  teaching,  administraNon.  

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CerNficaNon  •  Requirements  for  Specialist  status:  – Applicants  are  required  to  document  a  record  of  appropriate  professional  acNviNes  in  forensic  toxicology.  

– Applicants  must  be  engaged  in  the  pracNce  of  forensic  toxicology  at  the  Nme  of  applicaNon  for  CerNficaNon.    

– Comprehensive  wriUen  examinaNons  based  upon  broad  principles  of  toxicology    

– Submit  evidence  of  conNnuing  professional  educaNon  every  year.        

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Salary  ExpectaNons  I  •  Entering  the  field  with  a  BS  or    MS  degree  in  chemistry  or  related  subject,  non-­‐cerNfied:  

•  $35,000  –  55,000  •  Typical  duNes  range  from  rouNne  segmented  work  to  case  officer  role.  

•  With  experience,  incremental  grades  add  about  $15%  to  salary.  

•  CerNficaNon  may  enhance  salary.  •  Public/Private  are  about  equivalent.  

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Salary  ExpectaNons  II  •  Supervisory/Technical  management  role:  – $65,000  –  85,000  

•  Laboratory  Management  role:  – $80,000  -­‐  $120,000  

•  Academia:  – Asst  Professor  $60,000  -­‐  $85,000  – Associate  professor  $70,000  -­‐  $110,000  

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Resources  •  www.AAFS.org  – hUp://www.aafs.org/resources/employment-­‐opportuniNes-­‐short  

– hUp://www.aafs.org/fepac  hUp://fsf.aafs.org/career_paths/what-­‐forensic-­‐science  

– hUp://www.aafs.org/students/student-­‐career/choosing-­‐career  

– hUp://yfsf.aafs.org/  

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Resources  •  www.abt.org  •  www.SOFT-­‐TOX.org  •  www.COFSE.org    

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