Dr. Jessica Lynn Ayala is currently a Toxicology Supervisor at the Houston Forensic Science Center. Dr. Ayala has over a decade of toxicology experience working in public and private toxicology laboratories analyzing biological specimens for clinical, medicolegal, human performance, and drug facilitated investigations.

Dr. Ayala holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (2006) and Master of Science in Forensic Science (2008) from Sam Houston State University. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Forensic Science at Sam Houston State University on “High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) Drug Screening in Forensic Toxicology: A Cost Benefit Analysis” in August 2022. 

Dr. Ayala has presented in numerous conferences and webinars including the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), Forensic Technology Center for Excellence (FTCoE), Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS), Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) and others.

Dr. Ayala is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS), Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), Southwestern Association of Toxicologists (SAT), International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology. In 2023, she received the Doctorate Educational Research Award presented by SOFT for her dissertation work with HRMS.