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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