Forensic Scientist II

State of North Carolina•Raleigh, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The North Carolina Department of Justice, led by the Attorney General of North Carolina, represents the state, state agencies, and elected officials, and defends the rights of the people of North Carolina. The Department handles all state criminal appeals cases and assists district attorneys with complex criminal cases at their request. Additionally, the Department of Justice includes the North Carolina State Crime Lab, the North Carolina Justice Academy, and the Sheriffs’ and Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Divisions. 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. The primary purpose of this Forensic Scientist II is to perform journey level Toxicology casework – an equitable share of the analyses performed by the Section, prepare written reports of the results of the analyses and provide expert testimony in court on the results of the analyses. The position is also responsible for one or more collateral duties within the Toxicology section. This position is located in Wake County. This is a non-sworn Forensic Scientist located in the Toxicology Section of the State Crime Laboratory. This position is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Forensic Scientist II performs casework on toxicology evidence seized by Law Enforcement officers in the course of Driving While Impaired (DWI) and all types of Non-DWI investigations. Examples of non-DWI investigations are Drug Facility Sexual Assault (DFSA), Homicide, Assault, Abuse and Neglect, and 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 The Forensic Scientist II will perform casework with the highest degree of technical independence and must be very familiar with the North Carolina General Statutes, especially the DWI laws. The Forensic Scientist II must also be able to classify controlled substances using the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act – Schedules I through VI. Forensic Scientists must also issue a written laboratory report. Laboratory reports are used by Law Enforcement officers in their investigations, District Attorneys in their determination of what, if any, criminal charges will be filed against a defendant, other types of Attorneys, Courts and Juries in determining a defendant’s guilt. The laboratory report must therefore be written in a clear and concise manner, detailing the results of the analysis in such a way that Law Enforcement officers, lawyers, Judges, and Juries can understand the report and its application. The Forensic Scientist’s work is checked through a technical and administrative review of the laboratory case file, which includes all of the documentation and the laboratory report produced by the Forensic Scientist during the analysis. The Forensic Scientist II must stay current in the field of Forensic Toxicology to keep up with new substances being encountered, new technical and analytical procedures, and changes in the laws that would apply directly to the analysis. To stay current, the Forensic Scientist II must review scientific and forensic literature, journals, publications, and must attend scientific and forensic seminars and schools. This position is responsible for the technical review of their peer’s laboratory reports to ensure they meet laboratory standards for quality assurance prior to issuance. It is the reviewer’s responsibility to ensure that all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) were followed, and that there are no administrative errors in the case’s report or supporting documentation. This position will review reports related to Driving While Impaired (DWI) Alcohol Concentration cases, Driving While Impaired (DWI) Blood Drug cases, and all types of Non-DWI cases. Examples of non-DWI cases are Drug Facility Sexual Assault (DFSA), Homicide, Assault, Abuse and Neglect, and Alcoholic Beverage Concentration cases (e.g. non-tax-paid liquor). The Forensic Scientist II must testify in state and federal courts as to his/her analysis of the evidence. The Forensic Scientist II has regular contact with members of the criminal justice system and consults with the officials in reference to investigation matters specifically related to the laboratory’s analytical capabilities and limitations, the classes of impairing substances and related metabolites, and sample matrix concerns and or needs. 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.

Requirements

Four years of Forensic Toxicology Laboratory experience.
Experience with Forensic Advantage Information Management System.
Certification by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology.
Experience with Tandem Mas Spectrometry and Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.
Experience testifying as an expert in the field of Forensic 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 and two years of experience performing bench level analysis in drug chemistry / toxicology; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
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.

Responsibilities

perform journey level Toxicology casework
prepare written reports of the results of the analyses
provide expert testimony in court on the results of the analyses
responsible for one or more collateral duties within the Toxicology section
perform casework with the highest degree of technical independence
classify controlled substances using the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act – Schedules I through VI
issue a written laboratory report
technical review of their peer’s laboratory reports to ensure they meet laboratory standards for quality assurance prior to issuance
testify in state and federal courts as to his/her analysis of the evidence
consults with the officials in reference to investigation matters specifically related to the laboratory’s analytical capabilities and limitations, the classes of impairing substances and related metabolites, and sample matrix concerns and or needs