Forensic Chemist I or II or III
Onondaga County Medical Examiner's Office Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Syracuse, NY, US
Responsibilities
- Validation and performance of specialized testing procedures for the analysis of various drugs in biological specimens.
- Sets up, operates, maintains and trains others in the use of scientific instruments used in analysis.
- Certifies data for cases including postmortem and police agency.
- Composes technical reports to convey findings of analyses, inclusive of identity and quantity.
- Appears in court litigation as an expert witness.
Qualifications
Forensic Chemist III
- Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in a natural science, forensic science, medical technology, toxicology, criminalistics or a closely related field.
- Minimum of twenty (20) semester credit hours (graduate/undergraduate) in chemistry.
- Five (5) years of paid technical level work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in a forensic laboratory or toxicology laboratory.
Forensic Chemist
- Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in a natural science, forensic science, medical technology, toxicology, criminalistics or a closely related field.
- Minimum of twenty (20) semester credit hours (graduate/undergraduate) in chemistry.
- Two (2) years of paid technical level work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in a forensic laboratory or toxicology laboratory.
Forensic Chemist
- A. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees within the last ten (10) years with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in a natural science, forensic science, medical technology, toxicology, criminalistics or a closely related field which must include a minimum of twenty (20) semester credit hours in chemistry and successful completion of an internship with a minimum of 100 hours in a Forensic Laboratory, or;
- B. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in a natural science, forensic science, medical technology, toxicology, criminalistics or a closely related field which must include a minimum of twenty (20) semester credit hours in chemistry and employment in a technical position in a Forensic Laboratory for six (6) months within the last five (5) years.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in a related field.
- Experience with in Forensic Toxicology Laboratory and LC/MS/MS.
- Experience with testimony as an expert witness.
Compensation
The salary is depending on qualifications and experience, with scheduled annual increases, and a competitive benefits package:
- Medical, dental and vision coverage
- Annual vacation, sick, personal leave, and paid holidays
- Conference allowance and ABFT membership
- No-cost long term disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- New York State Retirement/Pension and Deferred Compensation Programs
How to apply
An application may be initiated by submitting an Onondaga County employment application https://onondaga.gov/employment/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/2025/07/P-200-OC-App-8-5-x-11-rev-2025.pdf, cover letter, and resume to Forensic Toxicologist Kristie Barba at kristiebarba@ongov.net.