Loretta Johnson

Loretta Johnson is a Professor at the Division of Biology, Kansas State University, and Co-Director of the Ecological Genomics Institute. Her research integrates genomic and ecological approaches to study adaptive mechanisms in plants and animals.

• Education: Ph.D. in Plant Ecology (University of Connecticut, 1992)

Research Focus: Ecological Genomics, examining genetic responses of organisms to environmental stressors like lead contamination and climate change gradients. Key species: Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem grass).

Recent Publications reveal interdisciplinary studies on genetic divergence, phenotypic plasticity, and ecotypic variation in grassland species. Her work bridges field ecology with genomic analysis to inform climate change adaptation strategies.

Collaborations: Partnering with geneticists, ecologists, and environmental scientists on NIH-funded Superfund Research Center initiatives.