Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson is a Professor of Pathology, Epidemiology and Public Health, and Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She serves as Director of the Clinical Microbiology and Virology Laboratories at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Her expertise includes clinical microbiology diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases. Dr. Johnson holds a PhD in Microbiology/Immunology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Pathology at the University of Maryland.

Education:

• BS in Biology, Salisbury State University (1992-1996)
• M(ASCP) in Clinical Microbiology, University of Maryland (1998-2000)
• PhD in Microbiology/Immunology, University of Maryland (1996-2002)
• Fellowship in Microbiology, University of Maryland (2003-2006)

Research Focus: Dr. Johnson’s work centers on detection, transmission, and control of antimicrobial-resistant organisms such as MRSA and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., KPC, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii). Her research employs molecular methods like PFGE, MLST, and whole-genome sequencing to study bacterial genetics and transmission pathways. She has over 70 peer-reviewed publications and active federal/industry grants in antimicrobial resistance research.

Recent Article Trends: Her recent work emphasizes rapid diagnostic technologies, molecular epidemiology of CRE and MRSA, and transmission dynamics in healthcare settings. Key projects include evaluating multiplex PCR panels for meningitis/encephalitis, genomic analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, and assessing infection control strategies like glove/gown use.

Awards & Honors:

• Richard S. Schwalbe Award, American Society of Microbiology (2011)
• NIH T32 Training Program Fellow (2000-2002)
• Excellence in Microbiology Award (1999)

Grants & Funding: Current roles include co-investigator on CDC Epicenter grants studying healthcare-associated infections and NIH-funded projects on CRE/MRSA transmission. She also collaborates on industry-funded studies of diagnostic tools like the FilmArray and Verigene systems.

Labs & Teams: Oversees clinical microbiology laboratories at UMMC and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams in infectious disease epidemiology, antimicrobial stewardship, and molecular diagnostics.