(Posted September 21, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Ryan Johnson, a senior from Mountain Top, Pa. studying biology, received a $1,000 grant from the National Academy of Sciences, administered by Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, to purchase cloning and protein purification supplies for a research project investigating new genes.

Johnson, the son of David and Judith Johnson of Mountain Top, is working with Jennifer Bennett, von Liebig Fellow in Biology, to publish their collaborative research how these new genes are involved in the regulation of morphology and development of the pharmacologically important Streptomyces coelicolor bacteria.

Previously, Johnson received an undergraduate research fellowship from the American Society for Microbiology that funded a summer research project at Juniata and provided travel funds to present his research at a national meeting of ASM in San Diego, Calif. in summer 2010.

In addition Johnson has received an I-99 Regional Networking Internship Scholarship and received first prize from the Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology for a poster presentation of his research.

Johnson serves as the president of Juniata's Student Government and serves as president of the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society and as vice president of Juniata's student chapter of ASM.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.