Abbegayle Dodds

Experience

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  Sacramento County District Attorney's Laboratory of Forensic Services

  Aug 2003 - Apr 2008

  Develop and validate instrumental techniques for analyzing trace elements in forensic glass samples using: ICP-MS, Laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MSWrite procedures for test methods to quantitate or semi-quantitate trace elements in forensic glass samples using ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MSResearch variability in trace elemental profiles of float glass (automotive windshields)Train external criminalists on elemental analysis using ICP-MSMaintain and operate ICP-MS and LA-ICP-MSAssist experienced criminalists with trace evidence casework: fracture matching glass fragments, calibrating and operating automated refractive index measurement system (GRIM II), analyzing fiber references via micro-FTIR, crime scene analysis of vehicleObtained grant funding from California Association of Criminalists (CAC) and National Institute of Justice (NIJ)Presented research findings at CAC Meetings, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Meetings Show less

  • Criminalist

    Jan 2007 - Apr 2008

  • Forensic Laboratory Technician

    Jan 2006 - Jan 2007

  • Senior Student Intern (Paid)

    Aug 2003 - Dec 2005
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  Arizona Department of Public Safety Southern Regional Crime Laboratory

  May 2008 - Jul 2010

  Criminalist

  -Blood alcohol quantitation for criminal investigations-Take contemporaneous notes, write reports-Testify in courts of law; defend reliability of blood alcohol analysis in Southern Arizona courts of law-Follow quality assurance protocols-Forensic serology traineeDeveloped automated internal chain of custody system for retained DNA samples

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  Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory

  Aug 2010 - Apr 2024

  -Analyze urine samples for the presence of drugs/ drug metabolites seized as evidence for DUID investigations conducted in the State of Nebraska-Record contemporaneous notes, write reports, and provide expert testimony in the courts of Nebraska-Maintain evidence security and accurate chain of custody records-Provide customer service via answering attorneys' and officers' questions to properly interpret and use reported results; provide DRE officers with testing results for logs; communicate with attorneys to ensure testing provided is relevant to the investigation-Supervise and train forensic scientist assigned to Toxicology discipline-Oversee technical operations of Toxicology Discipline, ensure operations comply with laboratory quality management system including ISO/ IEC 17025:2005, ANAB Supplemental Requirements for Forensic Laboratories, and State of Nebraska Rules and Regulations Title 177, Chapter 7-Write and manage standard operating procedures for Toxicology discipline using QualTrax-Perform and oversee instrument validation, perform method validation including estimating measurement of uncertainty, maintain control charts for drugs/ drug metabolites quantitated-Participate in quality management system, for example: annual management system reviews, performing root cause analysis, and corrective action requests-Research equipment needed and methods available to add testing drugs/ drug metabolites in blood to Toxicology discipline scope-Equipment/ Instrumentation Used: Agilent Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (single quadrupole, electronic impact); Abbott Architect c4000 Immunoassay Analyzer for Drugs of Abuse; Biotage RapidTrace for automated solid phase extraction; calibrated pipettors/ syringes-Software Used: Microsoft Office including Excel for data analysis, control charting, and measurement uncertainty estimation; BEAST for evidence tracking, note-taking, and report writing; QualTrax for controlled and uncontrolled document management Show less -Analyze seized suspected drug evidence including plant material, powders, and pharmaceuticals to determine whether a controlled substance is present, and if so, identify the controlled substance-Record contemporaneous notes, write reports, and provide expert testimony in the courts of Nebraska-Maintain evidence security and accurate chain of custody records-Provide customer service via answering attorneys' and officers' questions to properly interpret and use reported results; communicate with attorneys to ensure testing provided is relevant to the investigation-Supervise and train forensic scientists assigned to Drug Chemistry discipline-Oversee technical operations of Drug Chemistry discipline, ensure operations comply with laboratory quality management system including ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 and ASCLD/LAB Supplemental Requirements for Forensic Laboratories-Write and manage standard operating procedures for Drug Chemistry discipline using QualTrax-Maintain measurement uncertainty estimates for reported net drug weights; train analysts on technically reviewing measurement uncertainty budgets; ensure measurement traceability of drug weighing and methamphetamine purity analysis-Participate in quality management system, for example: annual management system reviews-Equipment/ Instrumentation Used: Thermo Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (single quadrupole, electronic impact); Agilent Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector for screening and methamphetamine purity analysis; Mettler Toledo 4-place and 2-place analytical balances; calibrated volumetric flasks; Thermo Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer with Attenuated Total Reflectance stage to differentiate cocaine base from cocaine HCl-Software Used: Microsoft Office including Excel for purity data analysis and measurement uncertainty estimation; BEAST for evidence tracking, note-taking, and report writing; QualTrax for controlled and uncontrolled document management Show less -Analyze seized suspected drug evidence such as plant material, powders, and pharmaceuticals to determine whether a controlled substance is present, and if so, identify the controlled substance; perform methamphetamine purity analysis for Federal investigations-Record contemporaneous notes, write reports, and provide expert testimony in the courts of Nebraska-Maintain evidence security and accurate chain of custody records-Provide customer service via answering attorneys' and officers' questions to properly interpret and use reported results; communicate with attorneys to ensure testing provided is relevant to the investigation-Train forensic scientists assigned to Drug Chemistry discipline-Perform instrument maintenance, instrument performane verification, develop measurement of uncertainty estimates for drug weights and methamphetamine purity testing-Participate in quality management system, for example: volunteering for annual audits-Equipment/ Instrumentation Used: Thermo Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (single quadrupole, electronic impact); Agilent Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector for screening and methamphetamine purity analysis; Mettler Toledo 4-place and 2-place analytical balances; calibrated volumetric flasks; Thermo Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer with Attenuated Total Reflectance stage to differentiate cocaine base from cocaine HCl-Software Used: Microsoft Office including Excel for purity data analysis and measurement uncertainty estimation; BEAST for evidence tracking, note-taking, and report writing; QualTrax for controlled and uncontrolled document management Show less

  • Forensic Scientist Supervisor/ Technical Leader Toxicology

    Jul 2016 - Apr 2024

  • Forensic Scientist Supervisor/ Technical Leader Drug Chemistry

    Jul 2015 - Jul 2016

  • Forensic Scientist

    Aug 2010 - Jul 2015