Overview

A toxicologist studies chemicals and their effects on living beings and the environment. The goal of a toxicologist is to maintain a good standard of heath for the earth and all living things.

What responsibilities will I have?

• Comply, analyze and interpret field as well as laboratory toxic substances
• Oversee drug and product safety and health risks during all phases of development
• Attain toxicological, chemical and biological data plus reports conclusions
• Develop and implement investigative toxicology studies 
• Conducts chemical, physical and toxicological properties analysis of chemical substances and evaluate associated hazards
• Critically review, evaluate, and interpret current scientific literature, research data and investigative reports, medical findings and reports
• Develop rational and criteria for analyzing chemical hazards
• Identify probable toxic substance components presence in emissions, discharges and waste streams
• Conduct exposure and risk assessments
• Support to develop environmental supervising programs for all toxic substances
• Review and analyze test methods protocols to verify validity and adequacy of use for entire application to evaluate different toxic substance issues
• Maintain and prepare records, reports plus correspondence pertinent to work
• Be able to provide expert advice and recommendations orally and in writing 

What education and training is required?

Individuals may work as a toxicologist on an assistant level with an associate’s degree. However, a majority of the opportunities require a maters or doctorate degree.  An associate, undergraduate, maters or doctorate degree often are obtained in biology, chemistry. 

To pursue a career as a toxicologist:

The following high school courses are recommended:  agricultural education, English, a focus on higher level mathematics and science: statistics, algebra, genetics, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Where can I work?

Toxicologists may be employed by biotechnology companies, academia, for the animal pharmaceutical industry or for the government.

Future Job Market/Outlook

The future outlook for a toxicologist will be good over the next five years.

Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations

• Society of Toxicology
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• American Clinical Laboratory Association