Robert Powers, Ph.D., F-ABFT

Robert Powers Headshot
Associate Professor

Forensic Science Department
Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences
About Robert

Robert H. Powers, Ph.D., is a Forensic Toxicologist and an associate professor who teaches both graduate and undergraduate-level forensics classes. Dr. Powers has directed several Toxicology and Controlled Substance laboratories and actively consults in criminal and civil cases nationwide. Dr. Powers is the co-author of the textbook "Forensic Toxicology - Mechanisms and Pathology鈥.

Dr. Powers is available to discuss questions and issues regarding alcohol, drugs of abuse, their effects and the testing thereof, DUI issues, including breath alcohol testing, and the role that drugs and alcohol may have played in forensic cases, including Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault, impairment, and death cases.

His current research focuses on the effect of ethanol on phase I and phase II metabolism of selected drugs and drug classes, de-compositional drug metabolism, postmortem changes, glycoprotein-based species differentiation selected drugs and neurotransmitters, decompositional drug metabolism and postmortem changes, and metabolism of neurotransmitter analogues.

News and In the Media

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science and toxicology, comments on the final police and toxicology report regarding the crash that killed Rep. Quentin Williams, whose car was struck by a wrong-way driver.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science and toxicology, says postmortem samples found in frozen remains can have uncertain results.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, comments on how forensic toxicology determined ethylene glycol, a component found in antifreeze, was used to murder a family for insurance money.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, discusses the autopsy findings on the death of two women after going to a night club. Powers says the fentanyl level was so lethal it would have killed them in minutes.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, provided expert testimony in a case in examining the field sobriety test conducted for the Poughkeepsie Common Council Chairperson arrested for DWI.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, talks about a massive supply of fentanyl pills that were seized and how synthetic precursors make it easy to replicate the deadly drug outside the United States.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, talks about how even trace amounts of fentanyl can cause a fatal reaction, either by ingestion or through breathing in dust particles.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, talks about the rising number of overdose deaths during the pandemic.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor of forensic science, talks about how different drugs are found post mortem from a toxicological perspective.

In the Media

Robert Powers, associate professor, forensic science, comments on the small study of patients who use cannabis and a beneficial impact on HIV-associated blood-brain barrier injuries.

In the Media

Robert Powers, Ph.D., DABFT, associate professor of forensic science and a forensic toxicologist, discusses what happens to the body and mind when a date rape drug is slipped into a drink.

In the Media

Robert Powers, an associate professor of forensic science and a forensic toxicologist, testified on state of the defendant at the time of a deadly crash.

In the Media

Robert Powers, an associate professor of forensic science, examines the possible reasons for a high blood alcohol report.