Chris John Potter

Dr. Chris John Potter is a Professor of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he has been faculty since 2010. His research program investigates neural mechanisms of olfaction in disease-transmitting insects, particularly malaria mosquitoes. Dr. Potter leads the Christopher Potter Lab, developing genetic tools like the Q-system to study sensory processing and behavior.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Genetics, Yale University (2002)
• B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley (1996)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroscience, Stanford University (2010)

Research focuses on:

• Neural circuit basis of olfactory behaviors in Drosophila and mosquitoes
• Development of genetic tools for neural manipulation
• Chemosensory mechanisms guiding mosquito host-seeking and oviposition
• Translational applications for vector-borne disease control

Recent publications emphasize mosquito neurobiology, genetic tool development, and olfactory coding mechanisms. His work consistently integrates molecular genetics with systems neuroscience approaches.

Honors and Awards:

• NIH R21 Grants (NIAID 2018, NINDS 2015)
• Johns Hopkins Discovery Award (2017)
• Malaria Research Institute Pilot Award (2015)
• Whitehall Foundation Grant (2011)
• Damon Runyon Fellowship (2003)

The Potter Lab (potterlab.johnshopkins.edu) develops transgenic approaches to study sensory processing. Current projects investigate mosquito olfactory circuits using calcium imaging, single-cell sequencing, and behavioral assays. Dr. Potter collaborates with public health researchers to translate basic discoveries into vector control strategies.