Christian Johnson

Christian Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD from Northeastern University and completed postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on structural biology and biochemistry of small GTPases, particularly their roles in cancer. Johnson’s lab employs techniques like X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamics, and genetically engineered mouse models to study oncogenic mechanisms.

Education: Postdoc (2024, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), PhD (2016, Northeastern University), MS (2012, NC State), BS (2009, UNC Asheville).

Research interests include structural enzymology, protein chemistry, and mechanistic studies of Ras GTPases in disease. Key publications address Ras GTP hydrolysis, KRAS mutations, and autophosphorylation effects. Awards include the AACR-John Kincade Scholarship and American Cancer Society Fellowship.

Johnson advises multiple students and has mentored over a dozen researchers. His work is funded via grants like the American Cancer Society’s Regulation of KRas Oncogenicity by Phosphorylation project. Collaborations span institutions globally, emphasizing protein chemistry and structural biology applications.