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Home > Toxicologists > Toxicologist Profiles
George S. Behonick, Ph.D., DABFTToxicologistE-mail: gbehonick@aitlabs.com
George S. Behonick, Ph.D. joined AIT in November 2009 and brings more than eleven years of experience. He comes to the company after most recently serving as the director of forensic toxicology at UMass Memorial Medical Center Department of Hospital Laboratories and assistant professor of pathology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass., since January 2005.
Prior to that, Behonick was a forensic toxicologist for six years with the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Western Laboratory in Roanoke, Va. This period of time included extensive experience in complex postmortem drug-related cases, notably involving the opiate and opioid classes, extensive scientific expert witness testimony in driving under the influence (DUI/DUID) of alcohol and/or drug(s) criminal court cases.
Behonick earned his bachelor’s degree from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.; his master’s degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, Pa.; and his doctorate from St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y. In 1998, Behonick completed a postdoctoral research associateship through the National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen-Edgewood Area, Md. He also holds diplomate status with the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT).
Majid Y. Moridani, Pharm.D., Ph.D., DABCC, FACBToxicologistE-mail: mmoridani@aitlabs.com
Majid Moridani, Ph.D. joined AIT’s team of toxicologists in 2013, bringing more than 15 years of experience. Prior to joining AIT, he served as the director of the clinical pharmacokinetics laboratory and as an associate professor of clinical chemistry and toxicology in the Division of Pathology at National Jewish Health since 2011. From 2004-2011, he was a faculty member at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Texas Tech School of Pharmacy, investigating bioflavonoids and natural products for their anti-cancer properties and metabolism by oxidizing enzymes.
Moridani earned his Pharm.D. in 1993 from Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran Medical University in Tehran, Iran. He then received his Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from King’s College London, University of London, UK, during which he investigated new drugs for treatment of iron overload in thalassemia. Moridani also spent three years in postdoctoral training in drug metabolism and biochemical toxicology at the University of Toronto, Canada, mainly focusing on drug metabolism by P450s and drug induced liver toxicity. In 2003, he completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical chemistry at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Moridani is also a diplomat of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry (DABCC), a fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (FACB), a member of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Kevin Shanks, FTS-ABFTToxicologistE-mail: kshanks@aitlabs.com
Toxicologist Kevin Shanks, FTS-ABFT began working at AIT in 2003 in research and development (R&D), where he began developing and validating analytical methodologies for small molecule drugs using HPLC, LC/MS/MS, and LC/ToF. After stints in R&D and lab management, he made his way into toxicology. Shanks’ areas of expertise include liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. His current areas of research include the detection of designer drugs, such as synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-018, JWH-073, K2/Spice) and synthetic stimulants (MDPV, mephedrone, methylone, bath salts) in biological and nonbiological specimens, as well as their metabolism and disposition. Shanks manages the trace analysis program at AIT, which consists of esoteric drug analysis and analysis of non-routine specimens, such as syringes, tablets, powders, liquids, and illicit drug substances and paraphernalia.
Shanks earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana, and his master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida’s Veterinary School of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. He is certified as a forensic toxicology specialist (FTS) with the American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT). He also holds regular membership with the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, where he has presented numerous methodologies regarding his original research. Gina CooperToxicology ConsultantE-mail: gcooper@aitlabs.com
Gina Cooper joined AIT in 2006 as an analytical chemist in our production laboratory where she focused on extractions and preparing samples for instrumentation. In 2007, she became a certifying chemist, performing detailed data analysis to ensure accurate and quality results were being reported to clients. In 2011, Cooper joined Field Operations as a toxicology consultant and plays an integral role in developing specialized toxicology reports for clients. With her vast laboratory experience and education in chemistry and nursing, Cooper excels at conducting client service calls and assisting clients who are new to AIT and/or require help interpreting patient reports.
Cooper earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Franklin College in Franklin, Ind. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Indiana University School of Nursing in Columbus, Ind., where she spent significant time in the pain management setting. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind. Cooper is a member of the American Society of Pain Management Nursing and is in the process of obtaining certification in pain management nursing. Her nursing experience includes time spent as a registered nurse on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.