David Johnson

Prof David Johnson is a Professor in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Manchester, moving to the Lancaster Environment Centre in February 2025. His research focuses on plant-soil interactions, mycorrhizal networks, and sustainable ecosystems. He holds a PhD in Soil Microbiology from The University of Sheffield (1998). His work contributes to UN SDGs related to Sustainable Cities and Ecosystems, Climate Action, and Zero Hunger.

Research interests include greenhouse gas dynamics (via the mobile Gladiss the GasLab), urban ecosystem services, and plant-mycorrhizal symbiosis in extreme environments. Notable projects include NERC-funded studies on urban soil multifunctionality (MEaSURE, £1.6M) and phosphorus cycling in agro-ecosystems (£50k Royal Society FLAIR Fellowship).

His awards include the Royal Society FLAIR Fellowship (2020-2023). Collaborations span institutions globally, emphasizing soil biodiversity and climate resilience. Future work includes PhD supervision on urban green infrastructure and tree expansion in extreme environments like Shetland.