Professor Geraldine M. Dowling is a forensic, analytical and clinical toxicologist with more than 20 years’ experience in analytical method development, method validation, laboratory accreditation, ISO/IEC 17025, laboratory quality management systems, and the interpretation of analytical findings. Her expertise spans alcohol, drugs, poisons and marine biotoxins, with applications including sudden and unexplained death, driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), and new psychoactive substances. She holds an MSc and PhD in Analytical Toxicology.
Professor Dowling is based at Atlantic Technological University, Ireland, where she teaches across Forensic Science, Analytical Toxicology, Forensic Toxicology and Clinical Toxicology. She serves as a Principal Investigator and Consultant and has held academic appointments internationally. She is currently Professor in Forensic Science (Visiting) at Kingston University, London; Visiting Senior Lecturer at King’s College London; and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Cameron Forensic Medical Sciences Unit, Queen Mary University of London. Previously, she was Visiting Professor in the Department of Toxicology at the National University of La Plata, Argentina, and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin.
Her research has translated into sustained real-world impact across government and regulatory laboratories. Since 2006, the Marine Institute, Ireland, has used her analytical strategy for marine contaminant monitoring; the method remains in use in 2026 and is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board. Internationally, research arising from her work was adopted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for monitoring non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, with the approach in use since 2011 and most recently evaluated in 2025.
Professor Dowling has also been invited by the Irish Government to contribute her specialist expertise to the Emerging Drug Trends and Drug Checking Government Working Group. The group developed recommendations addressing emerging drug trends, including harm-reduction and drug-monitoring approaches at music festivals in Ireland.
Professor Dowling is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), reflecting sustained leadership, influence and impact in higher education across institutions. Her educational work encompasses teaching, research, academic leadership and professional development, with a particular focus on accessible
continuing professional development (CPD) inclusive learning.
She has held leadership roles within forensic and clinical toxicology, including Irish Regional Representative for TIAFT, Vice Chair and past Treasurer of UKIAFT, and leadership and board roles with SOFT, LTG and the International Alliance of Clinical and Forensic Toxicologists (IACFT).
A strong advocate for accessible continuing professional development and knowledge sharing, Professor Dowling created the Global MOOC in Forensic Toxicology, a free CPD resource for practitioners incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles. The resource is pre-approved for continuing education points by the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT) and the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC). She is also the creator and host of The Analytical Zen Podcast, which makes complex toxicological/medical/forensic concepts freely accessible to students, professionals and the wider public. Her research interests also include metabolomics, particularly its application to toxicology, medicine and forensic science.
See Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/geraldine-dowling-msc-pgdip-phd-sfhea-2b66b835