معرفی
Melissa Johnson is a Professor and Undergraduate Program Coordinator at the University of West Georgia, affiliated with the School of Field Investigations and Experimental Sciences and the Perry College of Mathematics, Computing, and Sciences. She has been active in teaching and research since at least 2002, holding roles in various academic departments and coordinating programs for undergraduate students.
Education: Melissa holds a B.A. in Biology with a Chemistry Minor from LaGrange College (2002) and a Ph.D. in Physiology from the Medical College of Georgia (2007).
Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemical senses, particularly taste and smell. Key areas include the regulation of voltage-gated potassium channels (e.g., Kv1.3) in mitral cell neurons of the olfactory bulb, and the role of tyrosine phosphatases such as SHP-2, PTP-1b, and MKP-1 in modulating these channels. She employs techniques like patch-clamp electrophysiology, protein biochemistry, and histology to investigate how these processes affect olfactory signal transmission and perception. Her work bridges neuroscience and physiology, exploring how cellular signaling impacts sensory information processing in the brain.
- COSM Research Initiative Award (UWG), 2011-2012
Melissa has secured several grants to support her research, including an NIH AREA R15 grant (2011–2014) and multiple internal grants from the University of West Georgia. These grants have funded projects on phosphatase regulation in olfactory systems and related cellular signaling mechanisms. She also oversees undergraduate research through programs like the Student Research Assistant Program (2010–2013). Her advising duties include coordinating graduate internships and seminars, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between clinical neuroscience and histology fields.
