Education and/or Training

B.S.	1999	University of Wisconsin - Madison	Molecular Biology
Ph.D.	2007	University of Wisconsin - Madison	Cellular & Molecular Biology
Grad.Cert	2011	Purdue University	Veterinary Homeland Security

Areas of Specialization and or Research Interests

Molecular Biology
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
Emerging and Zoonotic Disease
Environmental Persistence of Disease Agents

Current USGS Research and Projects

Environmental persistence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) agent
Degradation of prions in the environment
Interspecies prion disease transmission

Professional Experience

2009 – present	Trainer, UW-Madison Bacteriology Master of Science Program
2009 – present	Research Biologist, National Wildlife Health Center
2007 – 2009	Post-Doctoral Researcher, Montana State University, National Wildlife Health Center
2001 – 2007	Graduate Research Assistant, Program in Cellular & Molecular Biology, UW-Madison
1999 – 2001	Research Specialist, UW-Madison Veterinary School

Professional Activities and/or Memberships

Sigma Xi Honor Society, 2009-Present
Board Member, UW Synchrotron Radiation Center User Advisory Board, 2005 - Stoughton, WI

Honors and/or Awards

Mentored Student	2010	Excellence in Masters Student Research	UW Bacteriology
Session Chair	2009	3rd International CWD Symposium	Park City, UT
Invited Speaker	2005	Synchrotron Radiation Center 38th User's Meeting	Stoughton, WI
Invited Speaker	2005	2nd International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium	Madison, WI
Graduate Student Mentor Award	2003	UW - Madison Graduate School	Madison, WI
Invited Speaker	2000	6th International Endotoxin Society Conference	Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

Selected Publications

Johnson, C. J., Bennett, J.P., Biro, S.M., Duque-Velasquez, J.C., Rodriguez, C.M., Bessen, R.A. and Rocke, T.E. Degradation of the Disease-associated Prion Protein by a Serine Protease from Lichens. PLoS ONE. 6, e19836 (2011).

Johnson, C.J., McKenzie, D. Pedersen, J.A. and Aiken, J.M. Meat and Bone Meal and Mineral Food and Feed Additives Increase the Risk of Oral Prion Disease Transmission. J. Toxicol & Environ Health A. 74, 1-6 (2011).

Kurt, T.D., Seelig, D.M., Schneider, J.R., Johnson, C.J., Telling, G.C., Heisey, D.M. and Hoover, E.A. Alteration of the Chronic Wasting Disease Species Barrier by in vitro Prion Amplification. J. Virol. 85, 8528-8537 (2011).

Alberg, E.S., Cross, P.C., Johnson, C.J., Heisey, D.M. and Richards, B.J. Modelling Routes of Chronic Wasting Disease Transmission: Environmental Prion Persistence Promotes Deer Population Decline and Extinction. PLoS ONE. 6, e19896 (2011).

Heisey D.M., Mickelsen N.A., Schneider J.R., Johnson, C.J., Langenberg J.A., Bochsler P.N., Keane D.P., Barr D.J. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) susceptibility of several North American rodents that are sympatric with cervid CWD epidemics. J. Virol. In Press.

Johnson, C.J., Gilbert P., McKenzie D., Pedersen J.A., Aiken J.M. Ultraviolet-ozone treatment reduces levels of disease-associated prion protein and prion infectivity. BMC Res. Notes. 6, 121. 2009.

Russo F., Johnson, C.J., Johnson C.J., McKenzie D., Aiken J.M. and Pedersen J.A. Pathogenic prion protein is degraded by a manganese oxide mineral found in soils. J. Gen Virol. 90, 275-280. 2009

Johnson, C.J., Pedersen, J.A., Chappell, R.J., McKenzie, D. and Aiken, J.M. Oral Transmissibility of Prion Disease is Enhanced by Binding to Soil Particles. PLoS Pathog. 4, e93. 2007.

Johnson, C.J., Phillips, K.E., Schramm, P.T., McKenzie, D., Aiken, J.M. and Pedersen, J.A. Prions Adhere to Soil Minerals and Remain Infectious. PLoS Pathog. 2, e32. 2006.

Hoefert, V.B., Aiken, J.M., McKenzie, D. and Johnson, C.J. Labeling of the Scrapie-associated Prion Protein in vitro and in vivo. Neurosci. Lett. 2-3, 176-180.2004.