OVERVIEW
Our client requires the contribution of a Scientific Expert and the requirement will operate as follows:
- i. Request for an expert statement is irregular and would depend on casework.
- However, it is estimated that a Scientific Expert will spend less than 10 hours per month;
- ii. The Scientific Expert accepts the requirement to respond to communications from the Home Office and other pertinent authorities by telephone or email in a timely manner ensuring development and casework is not compromised.
The role of the Scientific Expert is described in: 2020 No. 759 (L. 19) SENIOR COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES, MAGISTRATES’ COURTS, ENGLAND AND WALES; The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 Part 19. [5]
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Deciding whether a substance is “capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it”;
- Attendance at case conferences and/or Court, in person or on the telephone, as required.
SKILLS & QUAIFICATIONS
Evidence of the following experience is required:
- i. Professional qualifications in clinical or in-vivo pharmacology or medicinal chemistry;
- ii. Five years’ minimum postgraduate experience in the appropriate field.
- iii. Current expertise and detailed knowledge in one or more of the following, or related fields:
- (a) psychopharmacology;
- (b) pharmacology and drug discovery research; and/or
- (c) clinical/non-clinical pharmacology; and
- iv. Current and detailed knowledge of, and practical experience in, in-vitro testing together with in-vivo pharmacology in the drugs arena;
- v. Skills in data interpretation from in-vitro pharmacology assays, both functional and binding;
- vi. Ability to conduct basic and descriptive statistics tests and interpretation of in-vitro data and appreciation of the predictive value of such data.
- vii. Home Office will provide information about the Psychoactive Substances Act, the specification for the in-vitro testing and the format of the data.
Following experience is desirable:
- Desirable for the applicant to have access to contemporary literature to support the results of in-house testing.