Erik P. Johnson received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California at San Diego, studying bacterial genetics.  He then went on to a postdoctoral fellowship at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies working on a key protein of the HIV virus.  After a year as a visiting professor at the Claremont Colleges, he worked for 15 years at Quest Diagnostics, developing novel testing for infectious diseases.  He has created tests for Avian Influenza, HIV, and tuberculosis among many others.  He is currently a consultant with BRIDGenomics, helping medical laboratories implement new DNA sequencing technologies.

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, Dr. Johnson has been assisting in the implementation of real-time PCR based COVID testing throughout the United States.

Certifications

• Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego; Don Helinski, thesis advisor
• ASCP(MB)CM
• California CGMBS
• Licensed Patent Agent #56382
• Six Sigma Green Belt
• Python programming, UC San Diego.