Cory Goff, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Cory Goff grew up in central Virginia and completed his bachelor’s of science degree at Liberty University where his interest in herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles, was sparked through research with a local, endemic Virginia salamander, the Peaks of Otter salamander (Plethodon hubrichti). He taught at a homeschool co-op for a year before pursuing his Master’s degree at Marshall University in West Virginia. His Master’s research examined the effects of roads and trails on the movement behavior of the Virginia salamander and a sympatric species. After completing his M.S., Dr. Goff moved to Texas and started his Ph.D. at Texas State University applying conservation physiology, a new field that uses physiological responses to environmental changes as indicators of health, to fish and amphibian populations.

Dr. Goff loves teaching students of all ages, levels, and degrees the diversity, complexity, and design of Creation through all of his courses, integrating a biblical worldview and sharing his passion for biology and being good stewards of our world.

Dr. Goff, his wife, who is a family medicine doctor, and their three children live on a small farm and enjoy all outdoor recreational activities and exploring new places when time allows.

Courses Taught

• BIOL 224 – General Biology I – lab instructor
• BIOL 225 – General Biology II
• BIOL 310 – Ecology
• BIOL 400 – Biology Seminar
• BIOL 416 – Comparative Animal Physiology
• BIOL 418 – Vertebrate Natural History
• ENVR 215 – Principles of Environmental Science

Research Interests

Research in the Goff lab centers around the ecology and conservation of the Peaks of Otter Salamander (Plethodon hubrichti), a montane endemic to central Virginia. Current research involves both continued long-term assessment of salamander densities, population metrics, and range limits, as well as new research on population health. Dr. Goff and his team are conducting a comparative study on the salamander from different elevations, as well as allopatric and sympatric (where it is in competition with another similar species) sampling sites within its habitable range. They perform non-invasive hormone collection to quantify corticosterone levels, the primary glucocorticoid hormone involved in the stress response. Analysis of corticosterone levels in combination with body condition indices can be used as metrics to determine the health of this population, especially as it pertains to response to environmental change and competition with other salamanders.

Dr. Goff’s team: Usually 6-10 students, including both BIOL 495 and CSER students

Professional Memberships

• Virginia Herpetological Society
• Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians
• Herpetologist’s League
• American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology