Biography:Tracy L. Johnson

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Short description: American biochemist and academic
Tracy L. Johnson
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of California, San Diego

University of California, Berkeley

California Institute of Technology
Academic advisorsJohn Abelson
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of California, Los Angeles (current)

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

University of California, San Diego (past)
Main interestsGene expression, RNA synthesis, and chromatin modification.

Tracy L. Johnson, is the Keith and Cecilia Terasaki Presidential Endowed Chair and Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

In May 2020, she was named Dean of the UCLA Division of Life Sciences.[1] Upon being appointed she said, "“These extraordinary times provide an opportunity for UCLA Life Sciences to exercise leadership in new and previously unimaginable ways...I am honored to be a steward of these incredible opportunities to build on a foundation of excellence as we move forward into an exciting future.”[2]

Research

Johnson's research focuses on understanding RNA splicing and how regulating splicing allows cells to respond to their environment.[3] [4] Specifically, her group studies the spliceosome, a macromolecular "machine" made of five subunits that interacts with a pre-messenger RNA to produce an edited version, leading to appropriate translation into proteins.[5]

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (UCLA-HHMI)

Johnson has also focused on developing programs to create transformative learning experiences for undergraduates[6] including the UCLA-HHMI Pathways to Success Program.[7] The program is a comprehensive strategy to provide students with an authentic research experience early in their academic careers.[6]  The program has three key components:  (1) A research-based laboratory course, (2) a mentoring network that integrates peer and hierarchical mentoring, and (3) intensive learning communities.[6]

Education

Honors and awards

  • Maria Rowena Ross Chair of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
  • Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, UCLA Life Sciences (2015)[1]
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor (2014)[7][8]
  • Chancellor's Associates Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching[9] (2013)
  • Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral fellowship
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (2006)[10]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Tracy Johnson named dean of the UCLA Division of Life Sciences
  2. "Professor Tracy Johnson announced as incoming dean of life sciences division" (in en). 2020-05-27. https://dailybruin.com/2020/05/27/professor-tracy-johnson-announced-as-incoming-dean-of-life-sciences-division/. 
  3. Kisliuk, Bill (June 30, 2014). "Two UCLA faculty members named Howard Hughes Medical Institute professors". UCLA Newsroom. https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/two-ucla-faculty-members-named-howard-hughes-medical-institute-professors. 
  4. "Johnson Lab". https://johnsonlab.mcdb.ucla.edu/. 
  5. "H3K36 Methylation and the Chromodomain Protein Eaf3 Are Required for Proper Cotranscriptional Spliceosome Assembly". Cell Reports 27 (13): 3760-3769. June 25, 2019. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.100. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Dr. Tracy Johnson". https://www.hhmipathways.ucla.edu/ucla-hhmi-pathways-to-success-program/eligibility/dr-tracy-johnson. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Tracy L. Johnson, PhD". https://www.hhmi.org/scientists/tracy-l-johnson. 
  8. Kisliuk, Bill. "Two UCLA faculty members named Howard Hughes Medical Institute professors". http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/two-ucla-faculty-members-named-howard-hughes-medical-institute-professors. 
  9. "Tracy Johnson | UCLA Graduate Programs in Bioscience (GPB)". http://bioscience.ucla.edu/faculty/tracy-johnson. 
  10. "Top Researcher-Educators Receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers | NSF - National Science Foundation". https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=107118.