Forensic Chemist I - Toxicology

The Forensic Chemist - Toxicology is a highly technical position conducting routine and non-routine assays for volatiles and drugs required by a post-mortem, forensic toxicology laboratory. This position supports the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the State Medical Examiner System through the discovery of primary and secondary causes of unattended, unwitnessed, accidental, suicidal or homicidal deaths.  The Forensic Chemist - Toxicology self-assigns work from the pending list of analyses for the isolation of drugs from biological specimens and pertinent evidence using highly sophisticated analytical instrumentation. The testing performed is highly complex and involves all manner of biological specimens. Results of the work are combined with preliminary autopsy findings to render final conclusions as to the cause and manner of death.  In addition, the Forensic Chemist - Toxicology is responsible for review and certification of analytical data such as volatiles analysis and other LC/MS/MS quantitative batches.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

1. Knowledge of the principles, practice, and current developments in the field of analytical toxicology.
2. Knowledge of laboratory protocol, procedure, and techniques associated with medico-legal investigative work and biological specimens.
3. Knowledge of the operation of highly sophisticated analytical instrumentation, including mass spectrometry techniques or others (GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, etc.).
4. Demonstrated experience with successful sample preparation techniques for biological matrices such as protein precipitation, LLE, SLE or SPE.
5. Demonstrated experienced in independently performing and recording complex standardized laboratory tests and procedures and data analysis.
6. Ability to express technical information clearly, both orally and in writing, when reporting results or explaining procedures to others.