Dennis Hore obtained a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Queen's University, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Oregon before joining the Chemistry Department at the University of Victoria in 2006. His group develops advanced optical methods and complementary theory to study molecules adsorbed at the solid-liquid interface. In 2016 Hore developed an interest in spectroscopy and modeling for the detection of opioids in drug mixtures. That research theme has led to interdisciplinary research team that includes chemists, computer scientists, and social workers. He was the recipient of the 2018 Keith Laidler Award, presented by the Canadian Society for Chemistry in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of physical, theoretical, and computational chemistry in Canada.