Jerry Johnson

Dr. Jerry Johnson is a Full Professor of Biology and Curator of Fishes at the College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University. He has conducted extensive research on freshwater fishes, focusing on evolutionary ecology, functional morphology, and conservation biology. His work spans global field sites in Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Mexico, and England.

• PhD in Evolution & Ecology from University of Vermont (2000)
• BA in Biology with Chemistry minor from University of Utah (1995)
• AA in Liberal Arts from Snow College (1993)

Research interests include: (1) ecological drivers of evolutionary diversification, particularly predation effects on prey traits; (2) reproductive morphology in livebearing fishes; (3) evolution of reproductive isolation and hybridization; (4) cognitive evolution in fish; and (5) conservation strategies for freshwater fish biodiversity. Teaching interests cover evolutionary medicine, tropical biology, and peer-reviewed publishing.

His lab website here documents global fieldwork experiences and sabbaticals in Spain and Italy. Conservation collaborations with the University of Costa Rica highlight his commitment to species recovery planning.

• Alcuin Fellowship (2024-2028)
• Thomas L. Martin Professorship (2024-2027)
• Young Scholar Award (2014-2017)
• Outstanding Teaching Award (2016)
• Outstanding Research Award (2011)
• Multiple national and university-level awards