Faculty Profiles

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Dr. David Robert Johnson

  • Assoc Professor of Instruction - Biology

Biography and expertise

I'm originally from a small town in Idaho where I learned an appreciation for the natural world. This led to a BSc and MSc in Biology from Idaho State University. For my master's work I had the opportunity to conduct plant community college research in Alaska. I continued work on tundra plant communities for my PhD (UT Arlington) and post-doc (UTEP). At the end of my post-doc I had the opportunity to teach at El Paso Community College where I discovered that I love teaching undergraduates. I love the "A HAW" moments. I have taught full time at St. Edward's University and currently at Texas State University. I have also taught per-course at UT.

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Quantitative Biology

University of Texas at Arlington, 2008

Master's Degree

MS in Biology

Idaho State University, 2003

Bachelor's Degree

BS in Biology

Idaho State University, 2000

Teaching Interests

  • Scharnagle, K., Johnson, D. R., & Ebert-May, D. (2019). Shrub expansion and alpine plant community change: 40-year record from Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Plant Ecology and Diversity, 12, 407–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2019.1641757
  • Gough, L., & Johnson, D. R. (2018). Mammalian herbivory exacerbates plant community responses to long-term increased soil nutrients in two Alaskan tundra plant communities. Arctic Science, 4, 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2017-0025
  • Lara, M. J., Johnson, D. R., Andresen, C., Hollister, R., & Tweedie, C. (2017). Peak season carbon exchange shifts from a sink to a source following 50+ years of herbivore exclusion in an Arctic tundra ecosystem. Journal of Ecology, 105, 122–131. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12654
  • Johnson, D. R. (2016). Annual Report: Determining patters of plant succession, ecosystem services and hydrology at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve.
  • Johnson, D. R. (2015). Annual Report: Determining interannual variability in vegetation structure and exploring leaf decomposition and fungal metabolism at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve.
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Alpha Chi Favorite Professor, Alpha Chi National Honor Society. April 23, 2021
  1. Member

    IA of the Year Committee, Department of Biology, Texas State University

  2. Other

    STEM Communities LA Program, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University

  3. Other

    STEM Colloquium, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University

  4. Other

    Department of Biology Colloquium, Texas State University

  5. Member

    Faculty Senate Library Committee, Texas State University

  6. Member

    Faculty of Instruction Search Committee, Department of Biology, Texas State University

  7. View all activities