Joe Frank
Senior Toxicologist
Division of Registration and Health Evaluation
Exposure Assessment & Mitigation
Worker Health & Safety Branch

After completing my graduate studies, I decided to start my career in academia. I worked as a research scientist and assistant professor at two universities. I then moved on to industrial positions heading up research laboratories in leading chemical companies. Nine years after receiving my doctoral degree, I joined the Department of Pesticide Regulation as a staff toxicologist responsible for the development of risk assessments. Nine years later I accepted a senior toxicologist position responsible for the exposure assessment and mitigation program. I go through my background to demonstrate that my experience includes academic, industrial, and regulatory perspectives. While I have enjoyed each segment of my career immensely, I consider my current position the most rewarding. I felt that academia was an intellectual endeavor while my industry experience was geared to practical application. In the regulatory environment, it is both. Furthermore, I feel that my colleagues and I are in an ideal position to have a positive impact on workers, growers, citizens, and the industry. Heck, the work we do affects everyone living in the state and potentially the country and beyond.