Biology Faculty

Dorothy F. Boorse, Department Chair
Associate Professor of Biology

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Boorse website

B.S.Gordon College
M.S. Cornell University
Ph.D. University of Wisconsin--Madison

Dr. Boorse joined the Gordon Faculty in January, 1999. Her primary research and teaching interests are in aquatic community ecology, and invasive species, and her biological research focus is on vernal pools. She spends a great deal of time connecting science to non-scientists and looking at ways science and faith integrate, particularly in the area of environmental ethics. Dr. Boorse is the advisor for the student group, Advocates for A Sustainable Future, and is the AuSable Institute of Environmental Studies representative at Gordon. She also represents Gordon to the Marine Studies Consortium and AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Dr. Boorse is a co-author of Environmental Science published by Pearson, a textbook written with Gordon professor emeritus Richard Wright. Dr. Boorse was a fellow of the Center for Christian Studies from 2005-2006 and received the Distinguished Junior Faculty Award at Gordon College in 2002. She has a strong interest in mentoring women in science.

Walter W. Cho
Assistant Professor of Biology
Focus: Marine Science

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B.A. Harvard University
Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Joint Program
Post-Doc at WHOI under Dr. Timothy M. Shank

Dr. Cho’s research focuses on the study of the biodiversity, biogeography, and population connectivity of marine fauna, particularly the invertebrate associates of deep-sea corals, using a variety of molecular and ecological analyses.  Recently, his research has been concentrated in the Gulf of Mexico where he has been studying the potential impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea coral communities.  He has participated in multiple oceanographic research cruises in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans using a variety of vehicles including manned submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and autonomous robots.

Gregory S. Keller
Associate Professor of Conservation Biology
Curator of Birds and Mammals

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Keller Lab Website

B.S. Alma College
M.A. The College of William and Mary
Ph.D. in Ecology with Conservation Biology Emphasis, The Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Keller joined Gordon College in 2007 after teaching for five years at Eastern New Mexico University, where he was an Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology. As a conservation biologist, Dr. Keller focuses his research on the impacts humans have on biological systems, including a variety of taxonomic groups (birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects) and a variety of biological scales (habitats, landscapes, and ecosystems). Primarily, Dr. Keller and his students try to determine how migratory birds are impacted by habitat fragmentation, and if using tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and analysis of foraging behavior allow researchers to determine causes of population declines in these species.  Most recently, Dr. Keller has established a study analyzing the uniqueness of bog habitats in northern New England compared to other non-forested habitats.

Craig M. Story
Associate Professor of Biology
Director, Pre-Health Professions

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Story website

B.S. Gordon College
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Brandeis University
Post-Doc at MIT and Harvard Medical School under Hidde L. Ploegh

Dr. Story's research interests have focused on molecular immunology. His graduate and post-doctoral work involved work on the mechanism of antibody transport across the human placenta, and the ways viruses trick the immune system to escape detection. Dr. Story also worked in the biotechnology industry in the area of drug delivery using the body's own antibody transport system. Most recently, his research has focused on generating antibodies for diagnostic tools that can be used by the world's poor.  Since his 2006 sabbatical, Dr. Story has been exploring the use of new micro-scale tools to greatly speed up the process of antibody discovery. He continues this research, collaborating with the laboratory of JC Love at MIT's new Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.

Justin D. Topp
Associate Professor of Biology

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B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa
Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Post-Doc in Molecular Biology, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 

Dr. Topp joined Gordon College in 2011 after teaching for three years at North Park University in Chicago, IL. Dr. Topp has broad research experience in cell and molecular biology and biochemistry with specific foci in membrane trafficking, alternative splicing, and genotyping of pathogenic bacterial species.  His current research interest is to determine the function and regulation of Alsin, the protein mutated in juvenile ALS and other related neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Topp is also very interested in discussing and researching questions that lie at the interface of science and religion and writes a blog on the subject.