Forensic Toxicologist

About the Role

Join our team in a highly specialized scientific role where your expertise directly supports death investigations and the pursuit of accurate, evidence-based answers. In this position, you’ll perform complex toxicological testing on biological specimens to identify and interpret the presence of drugs, poisons, and alcohol. Your work will provide critical scientific information to pathologists, death investigators, and law enforcement agencies and may play an important role in legal proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Perform high-complexity analytical testing on biological specimens to identify, quantify, and interpret drugs, poisons, alcohol, and other substances.
• Analyze and interpret laboratory findings to provide accurate, scientifically supported results.
• Provide critical toxicology data used in determining the cause and manner of death.
• Collaborate with pathologists, death investigators, law enforcement, and other professionals throughout the investigative process.
• Prepare and communicate scientific findings clearly and accurately.
• Provide expert testimony regarding laboratory procedures, testing, and findings in legal proceedings.
• Utilize current County and department-specific software to document results and complete assignments.
• Conducts qualitative and quantitative toxicological screening and confirmation testing to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons in biological specimens such as blood, vitreous humor, tissues, and gastric contents or other matrices as needed.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain sophisticated analytical instrumentation (e.g., Gas Chromatography, immunoassay systems).
• Enforce strict quality assurance (QA), quality control (QC), and safety protocols to ensure compliance with forensic accrediting bodies (e.g., American Board of Forensic Toxicology, American National Standards Institute (ANSI/ANAB), National Association of Medical Examiners) and published standards.
• Correlate laboratory findings with case histories, police reports, and autopsy observations to determine physiological relevance to guide toxicology testing.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of all test results and case information.
• Develop comprehensive, legally defensible technical reports detailing findings and toxicological conclusions for use by forensic pathologists, law enforcement, and legal counsel.
• Testify as an expert or fact witness in criminal, civil, and deposition proceedings regarding testing methodologies and results.
• Maintain chain of custody for all evidence and specimens from receipt to final disposition.
• Manage laboratory inventory, reagent preparation and logs, and equipment maintenance schedules.
• Utilize specialized case or laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and county-wide database software to track cases, log data, and generate reports.
• Maintain awareness of the latest analytical laboratory techniques, equipment, and standards to ensure that examinations are performed effectively, efficiently, and accurately.
• Work independently to provide accurate and reliable toxicological results.
• Follow formalized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), organizational policies, and operational procedures to ensure all results meet regulatory and quality standards; periodically review these documents to provide input on updates and continuous improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, biology, forensic science, or a closely related field of study.
• Have had two (2) years of full-time analytical experience in forensic toxicology; OR
• Possess a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, biology, forensic science, or a closely related field of study.
• Have had at least one (1) year of full-time analytical experience in forensic toxicology, testing toxic agents; OR
• Possess a Ph.D. from an accredited college or university in toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, biology, forensic science, or a closely related field of study.

Special Requirements

• Submit to annual tuberculin skin test or chest X-ray, at County expense.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of qualitative and quantitative analysis of blood, other body fluids, and body organs.
• Thorough skill in the use of laboratory apparatus such as chromatographic, spectrophotometric, and immunoassay techniques used to identify and quantify drugs, metabolites, and toxic agents in human postmortem body fluid and tissue specimens.
• Thorough ability to analyze and recognize a wide scope of drugs, toxins, or poisons.
• Thorough knowledge and ability in applying safety procedures when handling chemicals and other laboratory equipment.
• Considerable skill in the application of methods, practices, and principles of physics, chemistry, pharmacology, and biology to practical laboratory and testing problems.
• Considerable initiative and judgment in conducting unusual tests and in devising methods and procedures for detecting chemical compounds in body fluids and sample sources.
• Considerable ability to organize and thoroughly document all examinations performed.
• Reasonable ability to present evidence and findings in a clear, concise manner both verbally and in writing.
• Reasonable ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and Internet software.
• Ability to communicate work-related information clearly and professionally.

Desirable Qualifications

• Membership in a related scientific organization such as Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT) or American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).
• Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) or eligible to apply for certification examination.

Benefits

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit: Oakland County Benefits.

Pay

$85,818 - $114,981

Schedule

This position is on-site.

Working Conditions

• Duties carried out in a typical laboratory and Medical Examiner environment.
• May be subject to performing duties in variable weather conditions, confined spaces, and loud noises.