Forensic Toxicology: Career Choices and Development Karen Sco Ph.D, MRSC, Michele (Shelly) Merves Ph.D., DABFT Barry Logan Ph.D, DABFT C. Chem., C. Sci. Assistant Laboratory Director- 2013-14 President, AAFS Associate Professor, Toxicology NMS Labs & Forensic Science Pinellas County Forensic Lab Center for Forensic Science Research Arcadia University Largo, FL and Educaon Glenside, PA Willow Grove, PA

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

BL Pracce Areas

• Human performance – Driving – Post Crash – Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault • Death Invesgaon • Regulated • High throughput vs less casework/complex (interpretaon)

BL Forensic Toxicology Analycal Interpreve

SM Analycal Toxicology

• Understanding the chemistry of the analyte. • Knowing the capabilies of various analycal plaorms (i.e. how instruments work). • Understanding Quality Management requirements. • Understanding data evaluaon and assessment. • Applying insight into working with problemac specimens. • Understanding method development and opmizaon. • Performing method validaon. SM Interpreve Toxicology

• Understanding the source of the sample and its limitaons. • Understanding how the result was obtained and its limitaons. • Thorough familiarity with the published literature on drug concentraons. • Knowing the therapeuc, toxic and potenally fatal outcomes associated with different toxins. • Relang laboratory findings to invesgave, autopsy, and cognive and behavioral findings.

SM Key Competencies • Chemistry – Organic, Physical, Analycal • Anatomy and Physiology • Pharmacology – Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinecs, Metabolomics • Psychology – Psychomotor Performance, Cognion and Behavior • Communicaons – Wrien, Spoken, Crical reading

BL • Research Is this the right career for you? • Character Traits: – Love Science – Really Love Chemistry – Broad interest in mulple disciplines – Excited about communicaon – Strong stomach – Aenon to detail – Open mindedness and fairness

BL Where do Forensic Toxicologists Work? • Government Laboratories: – Public Health, Police/Public Safety, Aorney General, Prosecutor, Medical Examiner/Coroner, Military • Academic Laboratories: – Laboratory medicine, Pathology, Toxicology • Private Laboratories: – Forensic and clinical laboratories, military contractors

SM A Typical Days Work… • Receive, inspect, process and accession specimens for tesng. • Review case histories or requests for tesng. • Assemble batches of samples from alcohol tesng and drug screening. • Review screening results, and order confirmatory tesng.

SM A Typical Days Work… • Perform instrument maintenance and set-up. • Batch and extract samples for confirmatory tesng. • Analyze and review data from chromatographic tesng. • Batch and extract samples for quantave tesng. • Review all data in the context of the case and generate a report. SM A Typical Days Work… • Develop or validate new methods. • Review QC data. • Research interpreve data to prepare a report. • Discuss case and opinion tesmony with aorneys and invesgators. • Tesfy in Court or at Deposion. • Aend training. • Obtain/maintain Cerficaon(s)

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

• Important to keep opons open

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

KS Becoming a Toxicologist • Undergraduate: – Course choices could include: • Organic Chemistry, Analycal Chemistry, Biochemistry, Toxicology, Biology, Pharmacology, Wring, Biostascs, Research – Degree opons include: • Chemistry, Biology, Forensic Science, Biochemistry • Must be in a Natural Science • Accelerated programs available

KS 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 posions

KS Forensic Science v Tradional Science Degrees • Both are acceptable • FS UG or MS degree includes addional benefits of courses in law, ethics, quality management • Same core subjects (chemistry/biology) should be covered but with FS applicaon

KS FEPAC

• Forensic Science Educaon Programs Accreditaon Commission • Maintains and enhances the quality of forensic science educaon through a formal evaluaon and recognion of college-level academic programs. • BS and MS programs are accredited

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

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

BL Building Your Resume • Consider Graduate School. • Parcipate in Professional Organizaons. • Parcipate in Young Forensic Scienst Groups. • Network, collaborate, visit other labs. • Seek out training. • Seek Cerficaon. • Find a mentor.

SM Professional Organizaons • Join AAFS, SOFT, SWAT, CAT, TIAFT, etc. • Aend their meengs. • Volunteer to help with meengs. • Volunteer and parcipate in commiees. • Present at professional meengs: – Plaorm/Poster • Write for newsleers.

SM Cerficaon • Requirements for Diplomate status: D-ABFT – Earned Doctorate – Adequate undergraduate and graduate educaon in biology, chemistry, and pharmacology or toxicology . – 3 years post doctoral experience in toxicology or closely related disciplines, including pracce, research, teaching, administraon.

BL Cerficaon • Requirements for Diplomate status: – Applicants are required to document a record of appropriate professional acvies in forensic toxicology. – Applicants must be engaged in the pracce of forensic toxicology at the me of applicaon for Cerficaon. – Comprehensive wrien examinaons based upon broad principles of toxicology – Submit evidence of connuing professional

BL educaon every year. Cerficaon • Requirements for Specialist status: FTS-ABFT – Earned Bachelors degree – Adequate undergraduate and graduate educaon in biology, chemistry, and pharmacology or toxicology . – 3 years post graduaon experience in toxicology or closely related disciplines, including pracce, research, teaching, administraon.

BL Cerficaon • Requirements for Specialist status: – Applicants are required to document a record of appropriate professional acvies in forensic toxicology. – Applicants must be engaged in the pracce of forensic toxicology at the me of applicaon for Cerficaon. – Comprehensive wrien examinaons based upon broad principles of toxicology – Submit evidence of connuing professional

BL educaon every year.

Salary Expectaons I • Entering the field with a BS or MS degree in chemistry or related subject, non-cerfied: • $35,000 – 55,000 • Typical dues range from roune segmented work to case officer role. • With experience, incremental grades add about $15% to salary. • Cerficaon may enhance salary. • Public/Private are about equivalent. SM Salary Expectaons 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

SM Resources • www.AAFS.org – hp://www.aafs.org/resources/employment- opportunies-short – hp://www.aafs.org/fepac hp://fsf.aafs.org/ career_paths/what-forensic-science – hp://www.aafs.org/students/student-career/ choosing-career – hp://yfsf.aafs.org/

BL Resources • www.ab.org • www.SOFT-TOX.org • www.COFSE.org

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