Keith W. Goyne

Keith W. Goyne is a Professor and Associate Dean in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment. He holds degrees from Penn State (B.S. 1994, M.S. 1998, Ph.D. 2003) and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on soil chemical and biogeochemical processes, particularly how agricultural practices, forest management, and pollutants like pesticides impact soil health, nutrient cycling, and microbial communities. Key areas include pesticide transport mechanisms, soil water repellency caused by surfactants, and the efficacy of vegetative buffers in mitigating agrochemical runoff.

Recent work explores climate change impacts on wetland soil biogeochemistry, invasive species effects on soil characteristics, and the ecological consequences of neonicotinoid pesticides on pollinators. His studies often utilize advanced spectroscopic techniques (e.g., FTIR) to characterize soil organic matter and contaminant interactions. Goyne’s publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches linking field observations with laboratory analyses to address environmental challenges in agroecosystems and natural landscapes.