Forensic Pathologist - UOD1899

University of Dundee; Dundee; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Dundee is seeking a qualified forensic histopathologist to manage autopsies and provide education to trainees. The role includes on-call duties and requires GMC registration. Ideal candidates will exhibit strong communication and teamwork skills, contributing to clinical governance and supervision in death investigations.

Qualifications

• Candidate must be registered with the GMC and hold membership with the Royal College of Pathologists.
• Must have a UK driving licence and live within Tayside region.

Responsibilities

• Provide service through clinical workload including autopsies and report writing.
• Supervise forensic and histopathology trainees.
• Communicate effectively with other agencies in death investigations.

Skills

Effective communication

Teamwork

Education

Part 2 examination (FRCPath) in Forensic Histopathology or General Histopathology

Job description

Posted on 17 September 2025 | Reference: UOD1899

The Centre for Forensic Medicine & Dentistry operates from the mortuary facilities provided by Police Scotland, located within the city centre, with clinical academic staff also retaining offices within the Dundee Dental School building on the City Campus. For over thirty years the Centre's primary role has been to provide impartial and independent forensic pathology services to the Scottish Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), and to help in the investigation of deaths reported to the Procurators Fiscal for Tayside through a contract served by the University. Subsidiary to its clinical commitments, the Centre is dedicated to the provision of high-quality medical education and specialist training in the fields of forensic medicine and dentistry and continues to offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses unique within the United Kingdom.

The Centre deals with a range of cases including road traffic fatalities, suicides, accidents at home and work, homicides and sudden natural deaths, as well as in-hospital deaths under anaesthesia and other unexpected hospital deaths. The Centre also undertakes autopsy examinations for individuals who have died overseas ("repatriated cases"). It currently performs on average 550 post-mortem examinations per year, approximately 25% of which are external examinations (under the Scottish "view and grant" system), 65% as one-doctor autopsy dissections, and 10% as two-doctor ("corroborated") autopsies. The Centre has a staffing level of three consultants, one forensic pathology specialty trainee, supported by clerical and technical staff offering in-house histopathology services.

The Centre also provides a range of research and degree programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the fields of forensic medicine, pathology and dentistry.

Your priorities will include:

• Service provision through undertaking clinical workload (autopsies, report writing and interpretation of ancillary investigations), ad hoc attendance at locus and undertaking weekend autopsies for suspicious deaths, on call provision (1:3), meetings with next of kin, COPFS and attendance at court. All work is to be completed within the contractual deadlines.
• Education and supervision of forensic and histopathology trainees in autopsy examination as well as the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate education for the University of Dundee.
• Effective communication and teamworking with other agencies in Scottish death investigation.
• Contribution to the development of the speciality through feedback into local, regional and national clinical governance meetings and CPD.

Who we're looking for:

• A candidate who has successfully obtained the Part 2 examination (FRCPath) in Forensic Histopathology or General Histopathology with the certificate of higher autopsy training (CHAT). The candidate must be within 6 months of CCT if still in training.
• Must hold a GMC registration and membership with the Royal College of Pathologists.
• Must live within the local vicinity (Tayside region) to be able to engage with oncall duties.
• Hold a UK driving licence and vehicle to facilitate oncall duties.
• A candidate who works well within the team, exhibits good written and verbal communication, exhibits attitudes and skills essential to the job and will enjoy being part of a unit who engages with supervision and education.

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