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Karen S. Scott
Associate Professor / Program Director, Forensic Science
Boyer Hall 336 1 (215) 517-2675 By appointment
About Me
Prior to taking on the role as Director of Forensic Science at Arcadia University, Dr. Karen Scott held the position of senior lecturer and consultant forensic toxicologist at Forensic Medicine and Science, University of Glasgow. She has over 25 years experience in the fields of forensic and clinical toxicology. She is published in the areas of post-mortem toxicology and hair and alternative matrix testing and is a reviewer for three of the main Forensic Toxicology journals.
Dr. Scott has a Bachelor of Science (honours) degree in Forensic & Analytical Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK, 1994) and a PhD in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Glasgow (UK, 1998)). On completion of her degrees she carried out postdoctoral research in Tokyo, Japan investigating incorporation rates of drugs into hair. She is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Chemist and an Authorized Analyst for the purposes of Section 16 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act (UK).
Areas Of Focus
Hair analysis for drugs; drug stability; human performance toxicology, post-mortem toxicology
Hometown
Voorhees, NJ
Home Country
Scotland
My Expertise
Forensic Toxicology, Pharmacology, Forensic Science, Forensic Investigations Minor,
Education History
University of Glasgow 1998
PhD, Major in Forensic Toxicology
Strathclyde University 1994
BSc (Hons), Major in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry
Publications
Extended Stability Evaluation of Selected Cathinones
A toxicological exploration of the opioid crisis
An Insight into Gabapentin and Pregabalin in Scottish Prisoners
Metabolic Profile Determination of NBOMe Compounds Using Human Liver Microsomes and Comparison with Findings in Authentic Human Blood and Urine
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantitative Identification of 23 New Psychoactive Substances in Blood and Urine
Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Adverse Effects of Synthetic Cannabinoid Drugs
Metabolism and Toxicological Analysis of Synthetic Cannabinoids in Biological Fluids and Tissues
Recommendations for Toxicological Investigation of Drug-Impaired Driving and Motor Vehicle Fatalities—2017 Update
Impact of Expanding ELISA Screening in DUID Investigations to Include Carisoprodol/Meprobamate and Zolpidem
Research Summary
My main research interest is the analysis of hair for drugs. I have particular interests in the way in which drugs incorporate into different types of body hair and in cases involving drug facilitated crimes (e.g. sexual assault cases). Current collaborative research includes e-cigarette research using cocaine as a target drug for deposition onto fur.
In additional I am interested in the stability of drugs in different matrices including blood and urine and how this impacts on the interpretation of both human performance and postmortem toxicology casework. Examples of drugs my research group has worked on have included GHB, benzodiazepines, cathinones and fentanyl.