About
Christopher R. Johnson is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Founding Director of the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute at the University of Utah. He holds additional appointments as Research Professor of Bioengineering and Adjunct Professor of Physics. His research focuses on scientific computing, visualization, and biomedical applications, with notable contributions to software tools like SCIRun, ShapeWorks, and FluoRender. He has led the SCI Institute since its founding in 1992, growing it to over 200 members. Johnson has pioneered advancements in cardiac electrophysiology modeling, medical imaging, and high-performance computing.
Johnson’s academic journey includes a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Computer Science, though specific institutions are not mentioned. His editorial roles include co-editing The Visualization Handbook and serving on multiple journal boards. He has advised numerous students, including Brian Zenger, Jake Bergquist, and Lindsay Rupp, who have received prestigious awards like the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
His awards span decades and disciplines, including the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow Award, IEEE Visualization Career Award, and Utah Cyber Pioneer Award. He is a Fellow of AIMBE, AAAS, SIAM, and IEEE. Johnson’s work emphasizes translating computational methods into clinical tools, such as deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s and atrial fibrillation treatment.
Johnson’s lab, the SCI Institute, collaborates widely with industry and academia, developing open-source software for biomedical computing. Key projects include SCIRun (a biomedical problem-solving environment) and ShapeWorks (statistical shape modeling). He has been instrumental in securing over $6 million in NIH grants for the Center for Integrative Biomedical Computing (CIBC).
