Dr. Michael D.L. Johnson named Associate Dean for Basic Science Research and Graduate Studies!
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael D.L. Johnson, PhD, as the associate dean for basic science research and graduate studies at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, effective August 1.
Dr. Johnson currently serves as an associate professor in the Department of Immunobiology and the Inaugural Keating Family Endowed Professorship for Interdisciplinary Research at the BIO5 Institute, and is a member of the Valley Fever Center for Excellence and the Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center. He is also the director of graduate studies for the industrial microbiology track in the Applied Bioscience program, director of the BIO5 Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, and is the co-founder and director of the National Summer Undergraduate Research Project (NSURP), the nation’s largest remote summer research internship program for undergraduates focusing on underrepresented students interested in STEM careers.
Dr. Johnson’s outstanding contributions to the field of immunobiology and his extensive experience in microbiology research and academic leadership make him an ideal fit for this important role. He has dedicated his research to understanding metal homeostasis mechanisms in bacterial infections. His work will continue to have significant implications for novel therapeutic strategies against bacterial infections.
In his new role, Dr. Johnson will help advance basic science research efforts and oversee graduate student scholarship within the college. He will be responsible for advancing our programmatic research goals in basic science and supporting institutional initiatives, including strategic planning, enhancing faculty and staff recruitment and retention, and overseeing the career development of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty. Additionally, Dr. Johnson will ensure compliance with research policies and procedures while fostering a diverse and inclusive research workforce and learning environment.
Dr. Johnson will spearhead efforts to develop and support early-stage investigative research, innovation, and basic science discovery within the college, and he will work collaboratively with the administration, faculty, and the broader Health Sciences and UArizona communities to support and elevate the research and academic programs across the College of Medicine – Tucson, including our master’s degree and doctoral programs.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Johnson on his new role. We are confident that his leadership will significantly contribute to the growth and success of our college.