Toxicologist

What is a Toxicologist?

Toxicologists must possess particular qualities and an array of skills to adequately perform under the pressure that comes from operating in the theater of human life. They are typically studious, detail-oriented individuals with superb critical thinking skills who are able to communicate their research succinctly and expertly to convey the meaning of their work to the lay person and expert alike. The ability to function within a team setting or in isolation is crucial. Despite the pressure that naturally arises from working within the broader medical field, job satisfaction is rated quite highly, a result of impactful work and compensation that leans towards the higher end of the spectrum.

Toxicologists typically perform the following duties:

• The planning, design and execution of trials and experiments
• Analyze medical samples and relevant data to identify and quantify toxins, pathogens or diseases.
• Operate as an expert witness in court, giving evidence, summarizing research
• Administrative action, including supervising staff and managing laboratories
• Manage, design and operate studies to investigate human reaction to toxicity and appropriate methods to treat and/or prevent them
• Prepare, write and present research grant proposals and apply for funding from the appropriate nonprofit organizations, government agencies and corporations
• Analyze, sort and standardize drug potency and dosage to allow for manufacturing and distribution of drugs and medicinal compounds suitable for the general population

Under the umbrella arena of toxins and venoms, toxicologists study the damaging impact of industrial and household chemicals, drugs and various other identifiably or potentially poisonous substances. The safety of drugs available on the market, safe dosage limits and medical treatments for patients is the paramount concern for toxicologists, who utilize a multitude of techniques and methods to isolate and identify substances, chemicals that are toxic and to make a determination on the potential harm they might inflict on people.

Toxicologists are as likely to work in teams as they are by themselves with little to no supervision. Investigative methods such as clinical trials are supremely common in their research. In a classic example of a clinical trial, patients will agree to help determine if a particular treatment, whether isolated or comprising a combination of drugs and/or other medical treatments, will compare favorably to existing studies. Upon completion, toxicologists will typically publish their findings in medical journals.

They usually work in laboratories and offices. A large portion of their time is spent analyzing and studying data and writing reports. It is quite common to work with chemicals and biological samples, and as such, precautions must be taken due to the dangerous work environment.

Many toxicologists’ work is designed primarily (or solely) to benefit the company they are employed by, rather than to accommodate their own particular interests and predilections. This can remove the challenging nature of raising outside funds to finance their own research, but it can be challenging in its own right for scientists.

JOB GROWTH

Jobs for toxicologists are expected to increase by slightly more than 20% in the next ten years. This is largely due to an increase in funding for research in biological science and biotechnology, as well as an increase in demand for basic medical research.

TYPICAL EMPLOYERS

Government agencies, business, nonprofit and universities rely upon toxicologists to provide relevant services.  Additionally, many toxicologists accountants are self-employed and offer consulting services to individuals and various other entities. The most common employers are hospitals, the environmental protection agency, pharmaceutical companies, universities, forensic labs and private research organization.

The federal government is a major source of funding for all medical research, not just within toxicology. The level of federal funding will continue to impact the standing of toxicologists going forward, not just in terms of overall employment figures but also in the renewal of research grants.