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Program advisor, contact:
Dr. Lee Goff
Using the details of a bug's life to convict a murderer is a fascinating subject, and the focus of Dr. M. Lee Goff's research and investigative work. (Dr. Goff is pictured above with Timia Crisp, Forensic Sciences '08 and Jan Balajadia, Graduate Research Assistant.)
(Faculty Profile: Dr. M. Lee Goff)
A forensic entomologist, in the same line of work as the CSI series character Gus Grissom, Dr. Goff serves as a consultant to the CSI shows and other crime investigaton dramas.
Entomology, the study of insects, would seem to lead to a quiet, uneventful academic career. Early on, Dr. Goff became an authority on chiggers. But in the midst of chigger studies, Dr. Goff also happened upon a new and a bit more exciting career specialty at the time that it was being created: Forensic entomology, the study of insect evidence at crime scenes. As an early pioneer in this field ( this group of pioneering forensic entomologists describes themselves as "the dirty dozen,") Goff has made significant contributions both in terms of research and in investigative work on cases.
Time of death and other aspects of a crime can often be determined by insect evidence. Insects are drawn to decomposing remains, and evidence that may help solve a mystery can be found by reading the clues in the insect's life cycle. Dr. Goff has participated in many fascinating and valuable discoveries. One such discovery is that evidence of drug use by the victim can be found, sometimes years later, by analyzing the empty pupal cases left behind by insects at the scene.
The CSI script writers have used several of the cases described in Dr. Goff's book, "A Fly for the Prosecution," (Harvard Books) as plotlines for shows, and Goff has been an advisor for additional fictional stories concocted just for the shows.
Dr. Goff has created and curated the popular traveling exhibit, CSI:Crime Scene Insects, that is touring natural history museums nationally.
Dr. Goff is one of the very few entomologists who is also qualified as a licensed Medical Examiner. Dr. Goff is active both as an investigator and a researcher, and testifies in numerous trials every year as an expert witness.
Dr. Goff is part of the national review board that accredits instructors and institutions to teach forensic entomology. Dr. Goff and research assistants (at Chaminade and elsewhere) continue with pioneering research in this area. Undergraduate majors in forensics are blessed by the small nature of the Chaminade campus, and have a chance to study with Dr. Goff as an accessible faculty mentor.
For more detailed information, see Dr. Goff's faculty profile.
