Duties and Responsibilities of a toxicologist

The duties and responsibilities may differ as per the industry the candidate works for Duties of a HR generalist

• Main duty is to conduct experiments in the laboratory.
• Must find bad effects of chemicals and other hazardous chemicals on human being’s health.
• Also find and develop new preventive medicines to rectify the effects.
• Work and conduct experiments on sophisticated equipments.
• Analyze the reason and cause behind these effects.
• Perform risk assessment by investigating toxic pollutants in water and food.
• To identify harmful environmental chemicals by conducting various experiments.
• Duty of a forensic Toxicologist is to identify information related to scientific which involves food poisoning, chemical pills and others.
• Environmental Toxicologist’s duty is to collect field samples obtained from aquatic resources.
• An academic Toxicologist main duty is to teach students on toxicology and work on research projects.
• Regulatory Toxicologists work in government centers to research about new drugs and chemicals.

Responsibilities of a Toxicologist

• To be very responsible and patient during experiments in the laboratory.
• Responsible for analyzing the cause of the effect.
• Aware of all the safety procedures and principles to be followed during experiments.
• Follow all the quality procedures during experiments.
• Find new techniques and develop treatment curing methods for the patients.
• Identify the cause and reason of harmful toxic gases in the environment.
• Forensic Toxicologist is responsible for analyzing the blood and urine samples if any alcohol or drugs present in them.
• Environmental Toxicologists are responsible for maintaining record keeping and reporting field data.
• Regulatory Toxicologists are responsible for testing and analyzing its performance in a scientific manner before the new product is released in the market for public.

What does a Toxicologist do?

Toxicology is a branch of medical sciences (biology and chemistry) that deals with the adverse effect of chemicals or poisons on animals and human beings. People who study toxicology are called Toxicologists. These professionals mainly work in academic universities or colleges, research centers and also regulatory organizations. Toxicologists are designated as scientists because they mostly involve in research and development activities.

The job profile of a Toxicologist is very challenging since his/her duty is to study about different types of poisons which include mercury, lead and asbestos. Some of the Toxicologists also specialize in some areas which include forensic, veterinary and risk assessment etc.

There are many tests and experiments to be performed by Toxicologists in the laboratory to find and study the adverse effects of different kind of foods on human beings. Mostly the experiments are first tried on animals. It is not so easy to perform experiments in laboratory the candidate must be very thorough in the subjects like biology and chemistry.

Most of the organizations treat Toxicologists as subject matter experts in analyzing and finding effects of the poisons in the food of human beings and animals. These professionals are not only restricted to research foundations or organizations but also work in government and corporate sectors for the welfare of the public.

More than fifty percent of males choose this profession as their career and very few females are seen in this profession.  There are many types of Toxicologists which include product safety Toxicologists, forensic Toxicologists, academic Toxicologists, clinical Toxicologist, regulatory Toxicologist and environmental Toxicologists.

Educational Requirements to become a toxicologist

• It is very much essential that the candidate is very strong in academics especially in science subjects like chemistry and biology.
• A Toxicologist must possess doctoral degree in science with a master’s degree in science.
• Only a bachelor’s degree is not sufficient for this position.
• Since Toxicologist performs research and develops new preventive medicines for the adverse effects of chemicals in foods it is mandatory that the candidate must have doctoral degree.
• Candidates also do graduate toxicology courses which include specialization in the subjects of molecular biology, biochemistry, environmental science and pharmacology.
• It is very much necessary that the aspirant who wants to become a Toxicologist must at least do master’s degree in any area of specialization like biochemistry, molecular biology and chemistry to attain great heights in his/her career.
• Most of the Toxicologists also have a second doctorate.
• The educational requirements changes as per the type of Toxicologist.
• For all Toxicologists a four year bachelor’s degree in science is required with major subjects in biology and chemistry subjects.
• Employment opportunities for these professionals are very good they get opportunities in both private and government sectors especially in government established research and development centers.
• Employments in these employers are only possible for the candidates who have doctoral degree or master’s degree in any subject of science.

Salary and Remuneration for a toxicologist

• The salaries and remuneration packages for Toxicologists are mainly based on the candidate’s previous experience, work location, employer type, industry type and also size of the company.
• In addition to salaries a very good bonus packages are also offered by the employers to these professionals.
• Bonus is also based on several factors like number of years of work experience, work location of the candidate, type of the industry and also size of the company.
• The basic salary range package of Toxicologists is $45,087- $123,717 per annum in United States.
• Including bonus and profit share the total salary earnings of a Toxicologist is in the range of $42,808- $137,818 per annum in United States.
• The salary range packages for males are better than females.
• For males the salary range package is $67,392- $108,516 and for females it is of range $49,552- $78,062 per annum.
• Almost all the industries pay very good salary packages for these professionals.
• Slight variation in the salary range packages is present among the industries.
• The highest salary range package is offered by chemical manufacturing industry of a range of $57,520- $136,083 per annum.
• Second highest paid salary range package is by environmental consulting with a range of $48,340- $115,406 per annum.
• Least salary package range of $46,794- $117,496 is paid by environmental health and safety industry in United States.
• The salaries of these professionals are also based on the candidate certification.
• Certified Toxicologists are paid excellent pay by the employers.
• Compared with all the cities in United States the best salary range package is offered by Washington, District of Columbia city of $73,634- $120,000 per annum.
• Out of all the states or provinces in United States Minnesota pays the best salary range package of $75,824- $107,841 per annum.
• The least salary range package of $35,235- $131,115 is paid to Toxicologists in North Carolina in United States.
• Experience is very crucial and deciding factor for salary range packages for these professionals in particular.
• A very good bonus is offered by the employers based on the candidate’s number of years of work experience.
• With less than one year experience a Toxicologist gets a bonus of $2,600 in United States.
• One to four years of work experience the candidate is expected to get a bonus of $6,992 per annum in United States.
• A Toxicologist is offered a bonus value of $8,944 by the employers with five to nine years of work experience.
• Ten to nineteen years of work experience the candidate earns a bonus of $8,500.
• A very good experience of twenty years and more than it the Toxicologist earns a bonus in salary of $10,000.
• The bonus offered by the employers based on the candidate experience levels is excellent.
• Compared with other occupation professionals Toxicologists are one among the highest paid executives.
• A Toxicologist with one to four years of work experience enjoys a salary range of $34,765- $90,105 per annum.
• Five to nine years of experience a Toxicologist earns a salary range of $49,316- $126,136.
• Ten to nineteen years of work experience a Toxicologist enjoys a salary range of $56,000- $150,000 per annum.
• With experience of twenty years and more than it a Toxicologist earns a salary range of $62,137- $143,206 per annum in United States.
• The employment prospects are also very good for these professionals.
• Based on the Toxicologist certification and area of specialization in science the employment is available in top employers.

Skills sets requirement for a toxicologist

• Good interpersonal and communication skills are required.
• Sound knowledge in science subjects like biology, molecular biology, bio chemistry and chemistry.
• Very much interested in the area of research and development activities.
• Ability to think new innovative ideas.
• To be very much enthusiastic and passionate about the job.
• Self learner and must work independently with minimal guidance of seniors.
• To be good team player.
• Excellent leadership qualities are required.
• Ability to with stand work pressure and face new challenges in the career.
• Maintain good relations with colleagues and juniors scientists of the company.
• Excellent logical and thinking skills are compulsory.
• To work in competitive work environment.
• Sometimes need to travel new places as part of the research program on duty.
• Good levels of patience are required to conduct experiments in the laboratory.

Certification and Licensure requirements for becoming a toxicologist

• Certification and licensure programs for Toxicologists vary according to the type of Toxicologist.
• Certified Toxicologists are given first preference by all the employers during recruitment process.
• The American Board of Toxicologists certifies these professionals based on a twp day exam and also work experience of the candidate in the field of research.
• Only Certified Toxicologists are appointed by the top employers.
• The Toxicologist’s certification is obtained by the candidate after passing examinations in the areas of effects, organ systems, principles, toxicity of agents and applied toxicology.
• Candidates who pass all the exams conducted by American Board of Toxicology awards and designate the candidate as diplomat of the American Board of toxicology.
• There is no licensure requirement for Toxicologist.