Celine Godard

What are your current research interests?

My current research interests include investigating the impact of pollution, biology of stress, and role of hormones in reproductive fitness and overall health in marine endangered species including cetaceans, sea turtles, and sharks.

What types of outreach and engagement have you been involved with?

I have been involved with both local and international endeavors. I was PI on an interdisciplinary ENTX-Math-Education SEED project that included 2 years of science outreach for underprivileged K-12 Lubbock students integrating toxicology and modeling concepts, and featuring sea turtles. I have also served as presenter and discussant for the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the international body established to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks, since 2005, with a total of 15 reports published by the IWC.  

Why did you choose this field?

I have been fascinated by marine life since I was a kid and knew I wanted to study the impact of pollution on whales and dolphins. I just kept focused on this goal and I am glad perseverance paid off. 

How do you define good teaching?

Good teaching is effective and enthusiastic teaching that is student-centered. I strive to make my material relevant and interesting. My goal is to encourage a growth mindset in students and to ensure they have multiple opportunities to assimilate the material and how it relates to their personal and professional lives.  

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

My proudest professional accomplishment is to have established a successful and international toxicology program on marine endangered species at Texas Tech University.

How do you integrate research and outreach into teaching?

I enjoy incorporating current research results in my classes whenever possible. I have also been fortunate to provide opportunities for my graduate students to travel to national and international field sites where we combined outreach with learning about and conducting field research.

More About Celine Godard

Dr. Godard-Codding received her Master's in Microbiology from Clemson University, South Carolina in 1994 and her Diplome D'Ingénieurs from ENITA-Dijon in France also in 1994. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology in 2000 from Texas Tech University. Her Ph.D. research focused on the identification and characterization of novel cytochrome P450 1 genes in marine vertebrates (fish and cetaceans) and was conducted at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) from 1995 until 2000. Dr. Godard-Codding pursued her research in biomarkers of exposure and effects in marine mammals at WHOI as a post-doctoral investigator from 2001 until 2004. She then moved to the University of Southern Maine for a senior post-doctoral fellowship position where she studied the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the endangered North Atlantic Right whale and participated in the creation of marine mammal cell lines. During her post-doctoral appointments and from 2000 to 2005, Dr. Godard-Codding served as Chief Scientist for the toxicology program of a worldwide sperm whale research cruise sponsored by Ocean Alliance. Her involvement in this program was featured in the news section of Science (2004, 2005) and on the Discovery Channel (2004). Dr. Godard-Codding joined Texas Tech University in 2006 and is now serving as Professor and Associate Chair. She has established collaborations with a number of agencies and universities, including the NOAA Fisheries center in Galveston, Texas and Seattle, Washington; Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS) and Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CICIMAR-IPN), Mexico; Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Science; Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Canada, University of Alaska Fairbanks; and University of Siena, Italy.  These collaborations provide opportunities for interesting research projects and multi-disciplinary student training. Dr. Godard-Codding received the 2020 Outstanding Woman Leader Award from the West Texas-Association for Women in STEAM (WT-AWIS) and the 2018 Texas Tech University President's Excellence in Teaching Award. She was inducted into the Texas Tech University Presidential Leadership Institute in 2016 and the Texas Tech University Institute for Inclusive Excellence in 2010.