Forensic Scientist I, N.C. State Crime Lab, Toxicology

THE STARTING SALARY FOR A NEW HIRE TO THIS POSITION IS LIMITED TO THE RECRUITMENT RANGE OF $ 42,780 to $ 58,845. Salary determination is based upon the candidate's education and experience related to the position, as well as departmental budget and equity considerations.

State Crime Laboratory - Helping Solve Crimes

The State Crime Laboratory of the Department of Justice maintains a full service forensic science laboratory to assist all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina in the investigation of criminal matters. The Laboratory’s mission is to provide state-of-the-art forensic services in the areas of drug analysis, blood alcohol/drug content, firearms, latent prints, footwear and tire tracks, forensic biology, computer forensics, and trace evidence. The services are provided from a central laboratory in Raleigh, N.C. and regional laboratories located in Edneyville, N.C. and Greensboro, N.C.

Learn more about the lab here: State Crime Laboratory at NC Department of Justice

A day in the Life of a Toxicologist; Meet a Toxicologist

The primary purpose of the Toxicology Section is to provide the North Carolina Criminal Justice System with trained and experienced forensic scientists who analyze evidence seized in the course of criminal investigations. The forensic services provided include laboratory analysis and expert witness testimony in the areas of alcohol/volatiles/drugs in blood/urine, and alcohol/volatiles in liquids.

CASE WORK and REPORT WRITING The Forensic Scientist I will complete prescribed Toxicology training requirements before beginning casework. The Forensic Scientist I performs casework on toxicology evidence seized by Law Enforcement officers in the course of Driving While Impaired (DWI) investigations. Forensic Scientists in this position also analyze the alcohol concentration of liquids (e.g. non-tax-paid liquor). The evidence is analyzed to determine the presence or absence of impairing substances.

Some or all of the following screening and confirmation techniques are used in the analysis: Headspace Gas Chromatography Immunoassay Solid phase extractions Liquid-Liquid extractions Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry Liquid Chromatography / Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

COURT TESTIMONY and COMMUNICATION The Forensic Scientist must testify in state and federal courts as to his/her analysis of the evidence. The Forensic Scientist is, through education, training and experience, qualified by the court as an expert in the field of forensic toxicology before being allowed to testify about the analysis.

The Forensic Scientist shall be required to obtain individual certification consistent with the international and ISO standards within 18 months of the date the analyst becomes eligible to seek certification according to the standards of the certifying entity. Overtime is required in this position. This position is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Forensic Scientist participates in competency and proficiency testing.

• Selected candidate will undergo and must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation which may take several months to complete. The background investigation includes: credit and arrest checks; interviews with associates, personal and business references, past employers and neighbors; verification of education achievement, and urinalysis drug screening and polygraph.
• Out of state applicants: This may require the applicant to return to the State of North Carolina multiple times at his or her own expense after the initial interview, in order to undergo the background investigation process.
• In accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec. 126-1.1( c), effective July 11, 2016, employees who are hired by a State agency, department or university in a sworn law enforcement position or forensic scientist position and who are required to complete a formal training program prior to assuming law enforcement or forensic scientist duties with the hiring agency, department or university shall become career State employees only after being employed by the agency, department or university for 24 continuous months .
• Employees who transfer into forensic scientist positions from other positions within N.C. State government and are currently Career State employees will be required to complete a probationary period of 24 additional months.
• In accordance with Section 17.5 of Senate Bill 402, The Department of Justice shall not hire sworn personnel to fill vacant positions in the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the termination of sworn personnel, but as vacant positions in the State Laboratory are filled, they shall be filled only with non sworn personnel. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect North Carolina State Crime Laboratory personnel who are sworn and employed by the Laboratory as of the effective date of this section and who continue to meet the sworn status retention standards mandated by the NC Criminal Justice Education and Standards Commission.
• ** Transcripts are required at the time of application. Credit for foreign degrees will only be given if verification of degree certification is attached. Transcripts for foreign degrees have to be evaluated by an organization like World Education Services to determine US equivalency.
• Upon hire the Forensic Scientist must complete the State Crime Laboratory Forensic Analyst Academy to obtain knowledge of legal concepts that impact their work – including a working knowledge of the methods, procedures, and practices used in the investigation of criminal offenses, and of the principles, techniques, and procedures of modern criminal investigation.

This position requires travel to testify in court.

Working at the State Crime Lab includes:
Easy access to downtown Raleigh, local shopping centers, healthcare providers and highways (70, 40 and 440)
Beautiful grounds with jogging/walking trails
Free parking
Patio dining
Food trucks
Fitness center on site
100% Paid parent leave compensation up to 8 weeks for eligible employees
Annual Flu Shot Clinic
Employee Engagement and Staff Development Activities
Including on site nutritional visits, wellness activities, therapy dog
This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies

1. Employees must have a working knowledge of the principles, concepts, theories, reference sources and laboratory practices involved with the forensic examination of evidence.
2. Employees must have a working knowledge of criminal law and of the rules and regulations regarding evidence gathering.
3. Employees must have a working knowledge of scientific methodology and of laboratory safety practices.
4. Ability to perform and record complex standardized and non-standardized laboratory tests and procedures.
5. Ability to analyze results, interpret methodology, and to understand and solve theoretical problems.
6. Ability to express technical information clearly both orally and in writing when reporting results, testifying or explaining procedures to others.
7. Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.
8. Ability to perceive colors normally and make olfactory distinctions.
9. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Drug Chemistry/Toxicology Bachelor's degree with a major in chemistry, toxicology, pharmaceutical science with chemistry concentration (organic, inorganic, analytical or physical), forensic science (with concentration in chemistry or toxicology), biochemistry, pharmacology or closely related curriculum from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Requirement Must obtain individual certification consistent with international and ISO standards within eighteen months of the date the analyst becomes eligible to seek certification according to the standards of the certifying entity.

Management prefers that the applicants have two years of experience working in a forensic toxicology laboratory, experience testifying in court as an expert witness in the field of Forensic Toxicology, and experience using the Forensic Advantage LIMS system.