Kory R. Johnson, Ph.D.

Dr. Kory Johnson has 25 years’ work experience in biotech and government. He holds a B.S. in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from University of Maryland (1995), a M.S. in Bioinformatics from Johns Hopkins University (2003), and a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from George Mason University (2009).

His doctoral thesis work focused on modeling genomic profiles collected from blood for Stroke diagnosis while his elective work focused on identifying the molecular effects of Anthrax on Lung, Liver, and Kidney.

Since 2006, Dr. Johnson has worked in the NINDS Intramural Bioinformatics Section; performing omics-related analysis support and training to all PI's and staff as needed. Types of analyses have included, but are not limited to: RNA-Seq, scRNA-Seq, TCR-Seq, ChIP-Seq, WGS, WXS, Targeted Re-Sequencing, Microarray analysis (DNA, RNA, Methylation), Q-RT-PCR analysis, Serology analysis, RNA Structure analysis and Target Prediction, Protein Structure analysis, ad-hoc sequence analysis, phylogenetics, and ad-hoc statistical analysis. On average, Dr. Johnson performs 150-200 different analyses per year, each involves detailed discussion with the investigator and development of an action plan.

In addition to providing analysis support, he also serves the Institute as a mentor in the summer internship program each year; teaching visiting students how to perform different types of bioinformatics analyses. Former positions held by Dr. Johnson, include those at the National Cancer Institute (1994-1995), Human Genome Sciences Inc. (1995-1996), and Gene Logic, Inc. (1996-2006). Notable accomplishments to date include the co-founding of Gene Logic, the co-pioneering of predictive toxicogenomics, and the co-development of the NIH Stem Cell Data Management System. As evidence of these accomplishments and evidence of his experience, Dr. Johnson has 5 patents in the field of predictive toxicogenomics, 1 patent in the field of stroke diagnosis, and has multiple works published in nearly 50 different Journals.

In recognition of his accomplishments and experience, Dr. Johnson has received the NINDS Distinguished Performance Achievement Award six times and the NINDS Merit Award for Excellence three times. Part-time, Dr. Johnson teaches graduate-level Bioinformatics as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Maryland (2009-Present) as well as teaches Bioinformatics for the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) at NIH (2014-Present). In 2011 and 2012, Dr. Johnson was nominated for the the Stanley J. Drazek Award for Teaching Excellence.