What does a toxicologist do?
A toxicologist specializes in studying toxic substances and how it affects living organisms such as humans and animals. They may work at learning institutions, private laboratories or businesses, medical facilities, and even government agencies. Although the extent of their duties varies on their place of employment, it typically includes conducting studies and scientific research, coordinating with fellow experts, gathering and processing samples through various laboratory procedures, maintaining records, and drawing conclusions based on the research findings.
Toxicologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real toxicologist resumes:
- Manage sample inventory via in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and implement additional systems for sample and chemical organization.
- Review in-house and contract toxicology studies on Monsanto products to ensure compliance with FDA and EPA regulations.
- Evaluate, verify and certify patient results from multiple levels of testing; ELISA, LCMS, MSMS
- Review and report both positive and negative initial drug screening data from the laboratory, and release results into the LIS.
- Compile computer database of FDA regulatory compliance data.
- Lead selection of CROs and qualification activities.
- Express is a certify SAMHSA FUDT laboratory.
- Witness or shadow work with centrifuges, HPLC, and LCMS.
- Miss Meyer are responsible for both GLP and non GLP pharmacological binding studies.
- Train lab techs on sample clean up, lab safety, andinterpreting immunoassay results.
- Complete HIPAA privacy, Medicare compliance, and OSHA safety and bloodborne pathogen training.
- Plan, schedule, and supervise actualized multiple GLP studies with Lilly & CRO staff.
- Conduct acute and chronic aquatic bioassays with species of freshwater fish, saltwater fish and daphnia.
- Analyze and interpret GCMS data as well as reported findings to clients through detail written submissions.
- Approve sample results, review final reports, and release the final reports to clients through the LIS system.
Toxicologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Toxicologists are proficient in Risk Assessments, Chemistry, and Product Safety.
We break down the percentage of Toxicologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Risk Assessments, 13%
Guided teams engaged in numerous human health and environmental risk assessments for capital and remediation projects leading to significant cost savings.
- Chemistry, 10%
Automated drug and clinical chemistry analyzers, flame emission photometers
- Product Safety, 6%
Responded to external customer inquiries regarding product safety.
- FDA, 6%
Supervised EPA and FDA GLP Reproductive and Endocrine Toxicity Studies as laboratory supervisor of the Reproductive and Endocrine Toxicology program.
- Toxicology Studies, 5%
Directed in-house toxicology studies and outsourced specialized studies.
- Safety Assessments, 4%
Researched animal and epidemiology studies published in scientific literature to substantiate the safety assessments of drug product formulas when needed.
Most toxicologists use their skills in "risk assessments," "chemistry," and "product safety" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential toxicologist responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a toxicologist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways." Toxicologists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "identified process improvement using six sigma methodology to promote consistent study director communication for back-up chemistry sample disposal. "
Observation skills. Another essential skill to perform toxicologist duties is observation skills. Toxicologists responsibilities require that "medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data." Toxicologists also use observation skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "coordinated and performed commercial release testing of marketed product at manufacturing site in qc environment to address fda audit observations"
The three companies that hire the most toxicologists are:
- ICF104 toxicologists jobs
- Church & Dwight Co.12 toxicologists jobs
- Corteva7 toxicologists jobs
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Compare different toxicologists
Toxicologist vs. Phd researcher
The primary job of a Ph.D. researcher is to plan and conduct experiments and analyzing their outcome. You will collect, organize, and analyze data and opinions to solve issues and predict trends. Other tasks you will perform include doing fieldwork to collect samples, writing reports, research papers, and reviews, and organizing materials testing. In addition, you need to liaise with research and production staff, develop ways to resolve problems, and supervise junior research staff.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a toxicologist are more likely to require skills like "risk assessments," "product safety," "fda," and "toxicology studies." On the other hand, a job as an phd researcher requires skills like "python," "research projects," "renewable energy," and "c++." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Phd researchers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $79,949. Comparatively, toxicologists tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $94,650.phd researchers tend to reach similar levels of education than toxicologists. In fact, phd researchers are 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 24.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Toxicologist vs. Researcher
A researcher is responsible for collating, organizing, and verifying necessary information for a specific subject. Researchers' duties include analyzing data, gathering and comparing resources, ensuring facts, sharing findings with the whole research team, adhering to required methodologies, performing fieldwork as needed, and keeping critical information confidential. Researchers must be knowledgeable about the current market trends and align findings with the research goals. A researcher must show strong communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail and time-management skills to meet deadlines under minimal supervision.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, toxicologist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "risk assessments," "product safety," "fda," and "toxicology studies." Meanwhile, a researcher has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "lab equipment," "c++," and "data collection." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, researchers achieve similar levels of education than toxicologists. They're 4.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 24.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for toxicologists in the next 3-5 years?
Helen Mango Ph.D.
Professor of Geology and Chemistry, Castleton University
Toxicologist vs. Postdoctoral research associate
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a toxicologist is likely to be skilled in "risk assessments," "product safety," "fda," and "toxicology studies," while a typical postdoctoral research associate is skilled in "python," "research projects," "post-doctoral," and "cell culture."
Postdoctoral research associates earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $69,999. Comparatively, toxicologists have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $94,650.When it comes to education, postdoctoral research associates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to toxicologists. In fact, they're 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 31.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Toxicologist vs. Assistant research scientist
An Assistant Research Scientist assists in planning, conducting, and analyzing various research projects. They also order and manage lab inventory, materials, and equipment.
Types of toxicologist
Updated January 8, 2025
