Primary Investigator
Dr. Christian W. Johnson
Dr. Johnson earned his PhD in Chemistry from Northeastern University in 2016 and completed his post-doctoral work at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in the Department of Cancer Biology. Dr. Johnson joined the USC Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry as an assistant professor in 2024.
Post-doctoral researchers
Not Recruiting
Graduate students
Ethan Lewis has been a member of the Johnson Lab since Fall 2024 and is a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research in the lab deals with the GTPase KRAS, along with it's oncogenic mutants, and their interactions with known tumor suppressor and KRAS effector protein RASSF5. While in the lab, he wishes to learn more about protein chemistry, structural biology, and molecular modeling strategies.
Chigozie Odo has been a member of the Johnson Lab since Fall 2024 and is a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research is focused on nucleotide exchange mechanisms of the RAS sub-family of small GTPases.
Rofiat Oladimeji has been a member of the Johnson Lab since Fall 2024 and is a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Her research currently focuses on alternative means of molecular regulation in the small GTPase superfamily.
If you are interested in joining the lab as an undergraduate student, please reach out to Dr. Christian Johnson via email.
Undergraduate students
Fatimah Al-Saedi is a Biochemistry major and aspires to be a dermatologist. She is also interested in getting more involved in research to better understand science.
James Bumgarner is a Biochemistry and Microbiology student who studying Structural Biology with Emphasis on Small GTPases. My plan is to attend medical school after I graduate and work in pediatrics.
Audrey Franken is a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology student at the University of South Carolina. Her current research interests include studying how oncogenic mutations in KRAS disrupt cellular signaling pathways and contribute to therapeutic resistance. After earning her bachelor's degree, Audrey plans to pursue a medical degree, where she hopes to combine her background in biochemistry with clinical practice.
Meredith Moyer is an undergraduate majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Her research interests include protein chemistry and cancer mechanisms. She hopes to work in the healthcare field.
Dhyan Patel is a Freshman Biology Undergrad joining under the Magellan Journey Program. He is invested in the healthcare field and plans on earning both his pharmacy and EKG technician certifications. His expected graduation is May of 2028, and plans on pursuing med school.
Daniel Simpson is from Storrs, CT. He is a chemical engineering major on track to graduate in the fall of 2027. Daniel is interested in developing treatments for medical conditions, in particular neurological conditions, as well as improving our understanding what causes them. He also has aspirations of publishing a book someday.
Micah Zeller is an undergraduate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with research interests in gastrointestinal health, signal transduction, and colorectal cancer. He hopes to attend medical school after graduation to deepen his understanding of conditions that affect the inner workings of the human body.
If you are interested in joining the lab as an undergraduate student, please reach out to Dr. Christian Johnson via email.
Alumni
Anna Gause
Gracie Reid is graduated with a Biochemistry/ Molecular Biology major with minors in Spanish and Medical Humanities & Culture.
Honorary Members
My wonderful wife, Christine Johnson, and our two sons, William and Sullivan
News
Congratulations to Fatimah and Rofiat for coming in second in the SEED Poster symposium! Also, a big thanks to Dr. Nick Truex for organizing the poster session.