This seventh episode of the “Strengthening the Forensic Workforce” season in the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) Just Science podcast series is an interview with Dr. Karen Scott, an Associate professor, Forensic Toxicology Consultant, and Director of the Master of Science in Forensic Science program at Arcadia University, and Dr. Jarrad Wagner, a Professor and Director in the Oklahoma State University School of Forensic Sciences, who discuss research collaborations and keeping on top of the dynamic drug landscape encountered in forensic toxicology casework.
One of the requirements of FEPAC accreditation is that programs maintain partnerships with external collaborators, such as forensic science laboratories and professional organizations. This is especially important for rapidly evolving disciplines like forensic toxicology where there is a constant influx of new drugs and analytical challenges such as a lack of available reference standards and complex biological matrices. Because of these issues, students and researchers at universities and practitioners in crime laboratories must work together to develop new techniques for novel drug detection and analysis in real-time. Listen along as Dr. Scott and Dr. Wagner discuss their FEPAC partnerships, ongoing research efforts, and the importance of hands-on learning in their forensic toxicology programs.