Board Member
Dr. Michael Rieders is a Founding Director of the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation where he has served as Chairman, Secretary and Chief Science Officer at various times during his over 25 years of active leadership on the Board of Directors. He was Program Director of Forensic Toxicology for the Masters in Forensic Sciences Program at Arcadia University which he founded with his father, Fredric Rieders, and a dedicated team from Arcadia University and the Foundation. Dr. Rieders continued as volunteer faculty at Arcadia University and in Foundation internship programs providing lectures and seminars including an introduction to cold case forensics where students participated in developing leads in unsolved homicide cases.Dr. Rieders is a supporter of the Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute at the Foundation where he was a guest speaker at this extraordinary high school student summer science program.
He previously worked with Foundation scientists on an African Wildlife Poisoning Program which he funded.
Dr. Michael Rieders is a Forensic Toxicologist and Lab Director at NMS Labs in Horsham, Pennsylvania, where he serves as a Director and Corporate Officer. NMS Labs, Inc. is a US and internationally (ISO) accredited private, independent clinical diagnostic toxicology and forensic science laboratory serving justice and public health since 1970, where Dr. Rieders was CEO from 1988 – 2008, and interim CEO from January - July 2020.
NMS Labs is a major sponsor and donor to the Foundation.
Dr. Rieders is a Fellow of The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) where he was a founder and Chairman of the AAFS Opioids and Emerging Drugs Crisis Committee from 2017 – 2019. He remains active on the committee, and as a member of the AAFS Toxicology Section.
Dr. Rieders worked to educate members of the public health community, including medical examiners and coroners, on the emerging issue of toxic adulterant cutting agents in street drugs and their potential harmful effects on pregnant substance use dependent women and other IV drug users.
Dr. Rieders has qualified as an Expert in Forensic Toxicology and testified in numerous criminal, civil and arbitration proceedings.
Dr. Rieders is a member of the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT), the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT), the World Association of Medical Law (WAML), and the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) where he serves on their Strategic Planning and Forensic Toxicology Committees.
He is a member of the NAME Foundation Board of Trustees.
Rieders served on Pennsylvania’s Commission on Wrongful Convictions where he worked with the Forensic Science Subcommittee on recommendations to improve the forensic science investigation system.
Dr. Rieders earned a Chemistry degree from Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) in 1980, and a PhD in Pharmacology/Toxicology from Thomas Jefferson University in 1985 where he was active as volunteer faculty and lectured in Toxicology.
He is past President of the Jefferson College of Graduate Studies Alumni Association where he was honored as Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Michael F. Rieders was the 2015 honoree of the Jefferson President's Award and was recognized with Jefferson’s Leader of Innovation Medal in May of 2021.
Dr. Rieders served as a Term Trustee on the Arcadia University Board from 2009 - 2012, and as a volunteer faculty member serving as a course director and lecturer in Toxicology at Arcadia’s Master of Science in Forensic Science program.
He served as Chairman of the Board of Advisors and Fellows at The Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Sciences at New Haven University.
Dr. Rieders is Commissioner and Chief Science Officer of The Vidocq Society, the leading cold case assistance organization which examines cases and assist law enforcement agencies in identifying leads that may help solve homicides. He was awarded the Dr. Halbert E. Fillinger, Jr. Medal and Lifetime Achievement Award by The Vidocq Society in 2013. Dr. Rieders continues to serve on the Society’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Rieders was an editor of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences publication, Science Technology and National Security, and wrote a chapter in Forensic Aspects of Chemical Terrorism.
He published an article on his work with NASA: “Management of a Potentially Toxic Accidental Trialkylamine Ingestion during Spaceflight” in Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine.
Dr. Rieders was featured in the Writer's Police Academy's "MURDERCON 2021" that aired in August of 2021.
He was also featured as a Forensic Scientist in the BBC film, “How Sherlock Holmes Changed the World of Forensic Science” and Smithsonian Channel’s “Forensic Firsts: Proving Poison”
Dr. Rieders is an avid advanced open water scuba diver and enjoys gardening, photography and international travel.
