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The Analytical Zen Podcast
Biography and Research: See Orcid.org/0000-0001-8344-6582 (presenting 100+ academic works)
Dr. Geraldine M. Dowling SFHEA has over 20 years of experience in forensic lab work, forensic/clinical and analytical toxicology, food safety, drug residue testing, method validation and ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation. She also has more than 10 years in academia as a university educator. She was past elected member of Academic Council at Atlantic Technological University and member of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Working Group. Her research spans forensic and clinical toxicology, with a focus on forensic science, medicine, clinical practice, metabolomics, lipidomics, drug testing, drug harm reduction, laboratory accreditation and additionally teaching education pedagogies (universal design for learning and community based learning).
Dr. Dowling is an internationally recognized researcher and gives international lectures. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), awarded for her excellence in teaching, research and leadership. She is the creator and host of The Analytical Zen Podcast, designed to make complex scientific concepts accessible to students and the public (available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts).
She serves as Vice Chair of the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists (professional body), representing forensic practitioners across England, Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Channel Islands. She is also the elected regional representative for Ireland with the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, a member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (USA) and an elected member of the London Toxicology Group Committee.
Dr. Dowling has trained professional staff and students in ISO 17025-accredited national government laboratories in Ireland and abroad, including The State Laboratory, Teagasc and the Marine Institute. She is a Principal Investigator, supervising postgraduate students (PhD/MSc).
Dr. Dowling was an invited contributor to the Irish Government's "Emerging Drug Trends and Drug Checking Working Group", which aims to introduce safer harm-reduction strategies.
She is a contributing author, reviewer and editor for international journals, including Drug Testing and Analysis, Journal of Analytical Toxicology and Forensic Science Review. She has written, edited and co-authored four books.
Dr. Dowling is the current Editor-in-Chief of the IACFT Journal [ISSN 3088-6600] and Outgoing Editor-in-Chief (2026) of the Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal [ISSN 2990-8167].
Recently she was nominated as a Visiting Professor of Toxicology and Forensic Science abroad, holds a Visiting Senior Lecturer appointment (2024) at King’s College London, UK and holds a Honorary Senior Lecturer appointment (2023) at Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK. She previously held an Adjunct Assistant Professor appointment (2020) at Trinity College Dublin.
Dr. Dowling’s work has had a lasting impact, with Ireland’s Marine Institute applying her methods in aquaculture monitoring since 2006 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adopting her research for drug monitoring since 2011. Her work as Principal Investigator, along with that of the students she supervises, has resulted in multiple validated methods being accredited on several occasions by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) and used nationally. In addition, selected work she developed has been used in international proficiency testing schemes.
Episodes
16 episodes
How Spiking Happens and How to Stay Safe
On this episode of the Analytical Zen Podcast, we explore a critical and increasingly urgent issue of spiking. While far from new, incidents are rising and the response must evolve just as quickly.We’re joined by Dawn Dines, Founder and ...
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Inside Synthetic Cathinones
In this episode of The Analytical Zen Podcast, Dr. Simona Pichini guides us through the complex and fast-evolving world of synthetic cathinones. Dr. Pichini is an Italian pharmacotoxicologist and Acting Director of the National Centre ...
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The Chemsex Conversation: Sex, Society and New Psychoactive Substances
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Luis Manuel Menéndez Quintanal joins us to explore the complex intersections between sexual health, substance use and forensic toxicology.From the science of new psychoactive substances (NPS) to the...
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Bones Tell Stories: The Reach of Forensic Anthropology
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tania Delabarde, leading forensic anthropologist at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Paris, where she has been instrumental since 2013 in the identification of unidentified bodies and coordination of Disa...
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Cat and Mouse: How Toxicologists Chase Ever-Evolving Designer Drugs
In this compelling episode, Dr. Kayla Ellefsen—Deputy Chief Toxicologist at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office in Austin, Texas, United States-offers a rare look into the science of forensic toxicology and its critical role in death in...
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The Zinc Connection: The Pancreas, Diabetes and Beyond
In this episode, we explore the connection between zinc and diabetes, focusing on functions of zinc in the pancreas and for blood glucose control. Using animal models of obesity and prediabetes, researchers investigated how mild zinc deficiency...
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From Energy Drinks to Drugs: Uncovering Stimulants
In this episode, forensic toxicologist Dr. Karolina Nowak takes us into the world of forensic toxicology, from the energy drinks we consume daily to the dangerous synthetic drugs on the streets. Dr. Nowak discusses the growing issue...
Demystifying Forensic Medicine: Tales from the Morgue
Join us on the Analytical Zen Podcast for an interview with Professor Christopher Milroy, a forensic pathologist and professor based in Ottawa, Canada.Professor Milroy earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpo...
Paper-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for a Smarter World: From Health to the Environment
What if you could transform the way we gather and interpret critical data in resource-limited settings? Join us on the Analytical Zen podcast as we chat with Professor Stefano Cinti, a trailblazer in the realm of sensors and biosensors. Stefano...
Using Smart Devices in Your Kitchen: Are Phones and Tablets a Recipe for Contamination?
Can smartphones contribute to food safety risks in home kitchens? Join Dr. Mairead McCann from SafeFood as she examines the role of smart devices in household food safety. Drawing on research conducted by Queen's University Belfast and commissi...
Forensic Toxicology Preventing Mishaps: How Drug Testing Became a Workplace Essential
Unlock the secrets of forensic toxicology and workplace drug testing. From naval mishaps to train collisions, discover the pivotal incidents that have shaped workplace drug testing policies and why they matter. Join us as we chat w...
From Lab Coats to Leading Labs: How a Work Placement Ignited Global Impact
What if a simple work placement could transform your entire career? Join us on the Analytical Zen Podcast as we sit down with Dr. Simon Elliott, a forensic toxicologist with over 30 years of experience. Simon shares memorable cases and pivotal ...
From Pharmacy to Forensics
In this episode, we discuss the critical importance of detecting Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC along with the challenges associated with analysing heart blood in forensic toxicology. We delve into Professor As...
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Drugs and Deep Thoughts: A Philosophical Look Beyond the Lab Results
Imagine a young driver under the influence of multiple substances—what societal factors contribute to such dangerous behavior? In this episode, we explore the case of a young driver found with cocaine, diazepam, and fluoxetine in their system. ...
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Intimate Contamination: The Kissing Defense and The Sex Defense in Sports Doping
What if an athlete could test positive for a banned substance through no fault of their own? As Wimbledon and the UEFA European Championships grace our TV screens currently, and with the 2024 Olympic Games set to begin in Paris, France at the e...
Career Spotlight on Professor Hans H. Maurer
Episode 1 features a career spotlight on esteemed toxicologist Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. (UGent) Hans H. Maurer. He is an Emeritus Professor and the former Head of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology at the Institute of Experimental...
