To become a forensic toxicologist, a person must possess a variety of skills, ranging from chemistry and biology to computer science. Communication skills are perhaps the most important of all the skills required to become a forensic toxicologist. Other skills, such as leadership and teamwork, are also essential for anyone interested in becoming a forensic toxicologist. Forensic toxicologists must also have math, public speaking, and scientific writing skills, which will be used frequently when preparing results, determining cause of death, and eliminating suspects.
A forensic toxicologist studies the effects of chemicals on living organisms and is frequently used in criminal investigations to find evidence and detail the causes of death and illnesses. This is a biologically-oriented position that requires a strong background in chemistry and biology, as well as experience as a research assistant. When deciphering evidence and arranging sample testing, forensic toxicologists must be able to communicate effectively with multiple agencies at the same time. Depending on the location where the forensic toxicologist works, learning a foreign language may be an important skill to have.
The toxicologist is often in charge of collecting evidence and examining potential crime scenes as part of an investigative team. This necessitates the toxicologist’s ability to lead as well as the confidence required to oversee an investigation. A lead investigator’s responsibilities include appointing other investigators to look into potential areas of evidence and making decisions about how the investigation will proceed. Building a team is a crucial skill for any investigator to have. This is especially true when working on a single crime scene with members of several different and often competing jurisdictions.
Many investigations come down to the forensic toxicologist’s math skills once the biological and chemical evaluations have been completed. The results are deduced through math skills using elaborate computations and calculations of body weight and the effect of certain chemicals. These calculations can often provide not only a time frame for the chemical’s ingestion, but also the time it took to kill or injure the body once it was ingested. When presenting the findings of a case, public speaking skills are frequently used, and writing skills are frequently used when creating reports to substantiate the findings and when submitting the findings into a permanent file.