Ryan Mitchell

Forensic Toxicologist

The study of all aspects of toxicity that may have legal implications.

What is Forensic Toxicology?

• The minimum education level needed for this job is a bachelor’s degree

• It is recommended that a doctorate degree is obtained (this is what is preferred by most employers)

What Level of Education is Needed

They isolate and identify any substances in the body that may have contributed to the crime.

This includes:

• Alcohol

• Illegal/ prescription drugs

• Metals

• Gases like Carbon Monoxide

How is this Related to the Solving a Crime?

• Bachelors degree Starting salary is just under $50,000 a year

• Masters degree is just over $50,000 a year

• Doctorate degree receives close to $100,000 a year

• With 10-19 years of experience: $ 150,000 a year

Salary

• Nice pay

• People call you doctor

Disadvantages

• Irregular hours

• Have to obtain a doctorate

• Can take time away from family

Advantages/ Disadvantages

Could become:

• Pharmacist

• Biologist

• Chemist

• Biochemist

Other career opportunities

• Woman dead.

• Ruptured gas line and the smell of gas in the room

• Officials assume that she died of exposure to gas

• Toxicologist found CO in the lungs and a crushed windpipe

• Turns out that her husband wanted the claim on the insurance policy that he just bought

Real Life Example