Oleta Johnson

Oleta Johnson is the William R (1964) and Daniel L. (1995) Young Career Development Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Chemistry in the School of Science. Her research focuses on understanding molecular chaperone proteins' roles in protein misfolding diseases such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s. The Johnson Lab employs chemical biology, biophysics, and biochemistry to study chaperone dynamics and develop therapeutic strategies.

Recent research highlights include developing conformationally responsive dyes for protein stability analysis and investigating HSP27 modification mechanisms. The lab has welcomed graduate students Natalie, Rosalind, and Amy, along with postdoc Kenton and summer interns like Caleb Zeleke and Zanyah Shepherd. The lab's work has led to collaborations in prostate cancer treatment targeting HSP70 pathways and neurodegenerative disease research.

Key projects include studying Hsp70 inhibition in cancers, understanding DNA damage responses, and validating druggable sites on chaperones. The lab maintains an active website with updates on publications and recruitment opportunities for students and postdocs seeking involvement in proteostasis research.