Christian Johnson

Bio

Christian Johnson is a marine biologist investigating phytoplankton community responses to nutrient and environmental variability around the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). Johnson is a PhD researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego) where he leads the Genomics at Sea Program (GASP). Through his work on GASP, Johnson has developed, implemented, and trained his team on ship-based protocols including sample collection and preservation for later analysis and DNA extraction, next-gen sequencing, and microbial community analysis onboard. By performing this work at sea, Johnson has developed comprehensive community analysis in near real-time, which allows his team to adapt sampling format and test hypotheses while still in the field. His research integrates next-generation field sequencing, metagenomics, nutrient chemistry, and traditional genomic methodology to examine how environmental variables shape primary production along the WAP.

Johnson’s broader scientific experience spans microbial culturing and transformation, molecular biology, and long-term ecological time-series data analysis through positions at the J. Craig Venter Institute, the Vernet Polar Ecology Lab, and the Allen Ecophysiology and Functional Genomics Lab. He has served as lead scientist for GASP on multiple Antarctic expeditions, in which he established two onboard genomics laboratories, trained numerous field teams, and engaged the public through microscopy and genomics workshops, citizen-science sampling cruises, and shipboard lectures. His work has been featured at the Oxford Nanopore Community Meeting (2024), Birch Aquarium, and in Forbes.

Supplementing his research, Johnson is an active scientific diver and experienced polar field guide with certifications through AAUS, PADI, NAUI, and the Maritime Institute. He is committed to science communication and education, leading hands-on workshops, youth enrichment programs, and public outreach events at venues such as Birch Aquarium. He holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from UC San Diego and is currently completing his PhD at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.