Vivienne Luk

Profile: Dr. Luk, came to UTM from the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto, where she worked as a Forensic Toxicologist. As a forensic toxicologist, she analyzed biological samples for the presence of drugs, alcohol and poisons and interpreted toxicological findings for the purposes of medical and legal investigations. She regularly testified in court as an expert witness in many different types of trials including homicides, sexual assaults and impaired driving cases.

She now teaches our Introduction to Forensic Science, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Toxicology and Analytical Forensic Toxicology courses.

Research Interests: Each year, more novel psychoactive substances (designer drugs) are being formulated, manufactured and enter the illicit market, posing a threat to public health. The ever changing nature of this illicit drug population is difficult to address using standard routine drug tests. Dr. Luk’s research interest involve the identification of compounds in biological fluids without pre-existing knowledge of what those compounds could be.