Education:

PhD in Chemistry from University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 2010-2015             

M.S. in Chemistry from University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 2010-2013         

B.S. in Forensic Chemistry from University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi 2003-2006       

Certifications:

Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (F-ABFT) 2015 - Present

Advanced Roadside Impairment Detection Enforcement (ARIDE)                                                         2015

Diplomat of the Forensic Toxicology Certification Board (D-FTCB) 2010 – 2015

Alabama Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Certification (APOSTC) 2006 - 2015

Alabama Chemical Test for Intoxication Act #T018; Breath Testing 2008

Professional Society Memberships:

Society of Forensic Toxicology (SOFT)                                   2008 – Present

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)                  2010 – Present

Alabama State Association of Forensic Science (ASAFS)        2012 - 2015

Specialized Training

Robert F. Borkenstein Course: Effects of Drugs on Human Performance and Behavior 2023 

Robert F. Borkenstein Course on Alcohol and Highway Safety: Testing, Research and Litigation 2007

Teaching Experience:

(2018) Residents (1) Forensic Toxicology Rotation (Ethanol, Chromatography, Theory of Mass Spectrometry, and Metabolism)

(2018) Lab. Week Presentation “Fentanyl Analogs”

(2017) Lab. Week Presentation “Fentalogues”

(2017) Residents (5) Forensic Toxicology Rotation (Ethanol, Chromatography, Theory of Mass Spectrometry, and Metabolism)

(2016) Lab. Week Presentation “Analytical Consideration for Heroin”

(2016) Residents (7) Forensic Toxicology Rotation (Ethanol, Chromatography, and Theory of Mass Spectrometry)

(2015) Fall Semester Teaching Assistant; Chem116 – General Chemistry I Laboratory; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Chemistry

(2011) Lecturer; Module III [Modes of Ionization]; Drug Chemistry Section Chief Training: Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences

 Published Manuscripts:

Atherton, D.; Dye, D.; Robinson Jr., C.A.; and Beck, R. “n-Ethyl Pentylone Related Deaths in Alabama” Journal of Forensic Sciences. (2019) 64 (1): 304-308. DOI: 10.1111/1556- 4029.13823.

Beck, R. and Erdmann, M. “Reinforcing Mass Spectrometry Concepts Through an Undergraduate Laboratory Exercise Utilizing a Direct Analysis in Real Time Enabled Mass Spectrometer” Journal of Chemical Education. (2018) 95, 4: 652-661. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00437

Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Atherton, D.; Dye, D; and Robinson C.A. “Quantification of Loperamide by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)” Journal of Analytical Toxicology. (2017) 41 (9): 729-734. DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkx069

Beck, R., Carter, P., Shonsey, E. and Graves, D. Tandem DART™ MS Methods for Methadone Analysis in Unprocessed Urine. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. (2016) 40 (2): 140-147

 Published Abstracts:

 (2018) Atherton, D.; Beck, R.; and McClesky, B. “Strange Bedfellows:  Fentanyl Mixed With the Antiquated Poison Strychnine” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting.

 (2018) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Whiddon, J.; Atherton, D.; and Robinson, C.A. “Will the real “Molly” please stand up?: n-Ethyl Pentylone Related Deaths in Alabama” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting.

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Whiddon, J.; Dye, D.; and Robinson, C.A. “Jefferson County Fentalogues: A 6 Month Review” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Whiddon, J.; Davis, G.; and Robinson, C.A. “Methodical Approach for the Identification of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2017) Atherton, D.; Dye, D.; McCleskey, B.; and Beck, R. “The First Case of Loperamide Toxicity in Jefferson County, Alabama” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Dye, D.; and Robinson, C.A. “The Quantification of Loperamide by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Dye, D.; Simmons, G. and Robinson, C.A. “Analysis of Drug Paraphernalia in a Wrongful Death Case” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2017) Beck, R.; Li, F.; and Musselman, B. “Primary Ion Middle Ion Structure Analysis (PIMISA®) -Enabled Direct Analysis in Real-Time (DART®) QDa Mass Spectrometer (MS): The Latest Development in Forensic Analysis Efficiency” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2015) Beck, R. and Graves, D. “Applications for DART™ MS technology for Bioanalysis of Opioids” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2015) Beck, R. and Graves, D. “Novel Screening Technique for Opioids in Toxicological Specimens via SPME DART™ TOF MS” American Society of Mass Spectrometry Sanibel Conference

(2014) Beck, R.; Carter, P. and Shonsey, E. “Qualitative Analysis of Methadone in Urine via DART MS” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2013) Beck, R.; Morgan, M.; Segrest, T.; and Shonsey, E. “DART AccuTOF: A New Drug Screening Protocol for Biological Specimens”. American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

 Poster Exhibits:

(2018) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Whiddon, J.; Atherton, D.; and Robinson, C.A. “Will the real “Molly” please stand up?: n-Ethyl Pentylone Related Deaths in Alabama” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting.

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Whiddon, J.; Dye, D.; and Robinson, C.A. “Jefferson County Fentalogues: A 6 Month Review” Society of Forensic Toxicology Joint Annual Meeting with The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists.

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Dye, D.; Simmons, G. and Robinson, C.A. “Analysis of Drug Paraphernalia in a Wrongful Death Case” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2017) Beck, R.; Li, F.; and Musselman, B. “Primary Ion Middle Ion Structure Analysis (PIMISA®) -Enabled Direct Analysis in Real-Time (DART®) QDa Mass Spectrometer (MS): The Latest Development in Forensic Analysis Efficiency” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2015) Beck, R. and Graves, D. “Applications for DART™ MS technology for Bioanalysis of Opioids” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2015) Beck, R. and Graves, D. “Novel Screening Technique for Opioids in Toxicological Specimens via SPME DART™ TOF MS” American Society of Mass Spectrometry Sanibel Conference

(2013) Beck, R.; Morgan, M.; Segrest, T.; and Shonsey, E. “DART AccuTOF: A New Drug Screening Protocol for Biological Specimens”. American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

 Oral Presentations:

(2018) Atherton, D.; Beck, R.; and McClesky, B. “Strange Bedfellows:  Fentanyl Mixed With the Antiquated Poison Strychnine” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting.

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Whiddon, J.; Davis, G.; and Robinson, C.A. “Methodical Approach for the Identification of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS)” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2017) Beck, R.; Kloda, S.; Dye, D.; and Robinson, C.A. “The Quantification of Loperamide by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)” American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2015) Beck, R. and Graves, D. “Evaluation of Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART™ MS) for Bioanalysis via Liquid-Liquid Extraction” Mississippi State University 5th Annual Lester Andrews Graduate Research Symposium

(2014) Beck, R.; Carter, P. and Shonsey, E. “Qualitative Analysis of Methadone in Urine via DART MS” Society of Forensic Toxicology Annual Meeting

(2014) Beck, R. and Harper, C. “Designer Drugs Update” Alabama State Association of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2012) Beck, R.; Morgan, M.; Segrest, T.; and Shonsey, E. –“DART AccuTOF: A New Drug Screening Protocol for Biological Specimens”. Alabama State Association of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

Miscellaneous:

(2018) Beck, R. “Introduction to Postmortem Toxicology” Alabama Coroner Association Annual Meeting Orange Beach, AL.

(2017) “Forensics and Homeland Security Mass Spectrometry Research: A Critical Discussion between Academicians and Forensic Science Practitioners” American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) – Invited Panelist

(2017) “Un-Comfortably Numb: The Evolving Opioid Epidemic” UAB Laboratory Medicine Seminar

(2017) Beck, R. “A Mass Spectrometry Takeover? Reasons to Replace Immunoassays Testing” ACS 2017 Annual Meeting

(2016) Beck, R. “Un “Comfortably Numb”: The Evolving Opioid Epidemic” Triennial ASCLS Meeting

(2014) Beck, R. Advanced Analytical Techniques; JS567 Forensic Toxicology; Department of Justice Sciences – Forensic Sciences; University of Alabama at Birmingham

(2013) Beck, R.; Segrest, T.; and Shonsey, E. “Basics of Chromatography” as part of Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry – Implementation and Maintenance. Alabama State Association of Forensic Sciences Annual Meeting

(2013) Beck, R. and Shonsey, E. “Basics of Liquid Chromatography” as part of Advanced Instrument Troubleshooting. Southern Association of Forensic Sciences 

(2013) Beck, R. Developing a Research Project; JS670 Elements of Forensic Sciences; Department of Justice Sciences – Forensic Sciences; University of Alabama at Birmingham