Rebecca Johnson (geneticist)

Rebecca Johnson is an Australian scientist who is Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, Science & Learning Division of the Australian Museum. The first female to be appointed in this role in the museum's 188-year history. She is also head of the Australian Museum's Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics. She received her education at the University of Sydney - BSc (Hons) 1995 and was awarded her PhD through La Trobe University in 2000.

Johnson has worked in animal molecular genetics in laboratories in Sydney, Townsville Queensland, Melbourne and Boston USA. She joined the Australian Museum in 2003 as laboratory manager, later became Head of Research before becoming head of the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics (a multifaceted management role as head of the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, Frozen Tissue collection and overseeing the Microscopy & Microanalysis laboratory). She is now head of both the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics and three other units that comprise the Australian Museum’s Scientific Infrastructure.

One of Johnson's most significant achievements to date has been to establish the Australian Museum as a global leader in wildlife forensic science – a sub-discipline of forensic science that uses the Museum’s unique collections, expertise and laboratory facilities in an innovative way. Johnson's team works across industry, law enforcement and academia as the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics is one of the few ISO 17025 accredited wildlife forensic science laboratories in the Australasian region. The team works with wildlife managers from zoos, the aviation industry or government who want to utilise DNA and genomics techniques in the management of their animals or for law enforcement purposes through DNA based wildlife forensic science.

Johnson has worked with sample types as diverse as shark fins, bird embryos, gall bladders, seized fish meat, salted animal skin, bones and horns. Some of these cases have resulted in prosecution and heavy penalties in court.

Johnson is a member of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences, and in 2014 Johnson became one of the few people in Australia to be appointed as a Wildlife Forensic Examiner by the Australian Federal Environment Minister under section 303GS(1) of Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999. She is also a certified wildlife forensic scientist under the certification program run by the international Society for Wildlife Forensic Science.

Johnson also established and is co-Chief Investigator of The Koala Genome Consortium, in partnership with Queensland University of Technology. The team is sequencing the genome and transcriptome of this iconic marsupial to assist in the conservation of this threatened species. Johnson is president of the Australian New Zealand Forensic Science Society NSW Branch, currently the secretary of the Genetics Society of Australasia and is Director of Membership and Outreach of the International Society of Wildlife Forensic Science.

Johnson’s career has been supported by her science mentors Marianne Frommer, John Sved and the late Professor Ross Crozier. She in turn is passionate about mentoring and is an energetic mentor to students and young researchers.