Unveiling Forensic Toxicology: Solving Crimes through Science

1. Forensic Toxicologist Ryan Mitchell

2. What is Forensic Toxicology? • The study of all aspects of toxicity that may have legal implications.

3. What Level of Education is Needed • 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)

4. How is this Related to the Solving a Crime? • 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

5. Salary • 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

6. Advantages/ Disadvantages • Nice pay • People call you doctor • Disadvantages • Irregular hours • Have to obtain a doctorate • Can take time away from family

7. Other career opportunities • Could become: • Pharmacist • Biologist • Chemist • Biochemist

8. Real Life Example • 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