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K. GRACE JOHNSON
218 Ayrshire Farm Lane #103, Stanford, CA 94305 (801) 664-7997
EDUCATION
Stanford University, Stanford, CA 2017-2022
Expected Degree: Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2022
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 2013-2017
Degree: B.S. in Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude Minor: Applied Mathematics University Honors Program Major/Minor GPA: 4.00 Overall GPA: 3.99
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ab initio electronic structure modeling methods and applications in renewable, efficient energy capture and storage; modeling of biological processes.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Graduate Research Assistant August 2017 – present Advisor: Todd Martínez, Ph.D.
Examine the photodynamics of the light harvesting complex of photosystem II using an ab initio exciton model. Explore mechanisms of non-photochemical quenching in plants using high performance computing.
PRESENTATIONS: West Coast Theoretical Chemistry Symposium Spring 2018
K. Grace Johnson and Todd J. Martínez, “Elucidating excitation energy transport in LHCII using a GPU-accelerated ab initio exciton model”
Undergraduate Research Assistant January 2016- May 2017 Advisor: Emily Jarvis, Ph.D.
PROJECT: Determine electronic structure of solid state materials using planewave-based ab initio computational methods. Investigate surface properties of materials for use in photoelectochemical devices and examine the efficacy of these materials in such devices. Explore solar-driven alternatives to fossil fuels.
FUNDING: Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering Summer Summer 2016 Undergraduate Research Scholarship
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PUBLICATION: Vykhodets, V. B.; Johnson, K. G.; Kurennykh, T. E.; Beketov, I. V.; Samatov, O. M.; Medvedev, A. I.; Jarvis, E. A. Direct Observation of Tunable Surface Struture and Reactivity in TiO2 Nanopowders. Surface Science 2017, 665, 10–19.
PRESENTATIONS: Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research Fall 2016
K. Grace Johnson and Emily A. Jarvis, “Oxygen depletion on TiO2 brookite nanoparticle surfaces and implications for photocatalysis and solar energy conversion”
American Chemical Society National Meeting Spring 2017
K. Grace Johnson, Emily A. Jarvis, “Photocatalytic and electronic implications from first principles characterization of oxygen depletion localized on TiO2 brookite nanoparticle surfaces”
Loyola Marymount University 9th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2017
K. Grace Johnson, Emily A. Jarvis, “Photocatalytic implications from ab initio characterization of oxygen depletion localized on TiO2 brookite nanoparticle surfaces”
Undergraduate Research Assistant January 2015- May 2016 Advisors: Ben Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. and Kam Dahlquist, Ph.D.
PROJECT: Analyzed DNA microarray data from yeast subjected to cold shock to determine genes responsible for the regulation response. Investigated dynamics of proposed gene regulatory networks using a differential equations model in MATLAB. Created testing routines for analysis of future networks.
FUNDING: Honors Program Undergraduate Research Summer Fellowship Summer 2015
PRESENTATIONS: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Conference Spring 2016
K. Grace Johnson, Natalie E. Williams, Ben G. Fitzpatrick, and Kam D. Dahlquist, “Modeling the dynamics of a 21-gene, 50-edge gene regulatory network controlling the transcriptional response to cold shock in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using GRNmap”
Abstract: http://www.fasebj.org/content/30/1_Supplement/819.8.short Poster: http://kdahlquist.github.io/GRNmap/publications/
Loyola Marymount University 8th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2016
K. Grace Johnson, Margaret O’Neil, Kam D. Dahlquist, and Ben G. Fitzpatrick, “Evaluating Hap4’s role in the gene regulatory network that controls the response to cold shock in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using GRNmap”
West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference Spring 2015 Loyola Marymount University 7th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2015
K. Grace Johnson, Natalie E. Williams, Kam D. Dahlquist, and Ben G. Fitzpatrick, “Comparing the dynamics of the cold shock gene regulatory network in yeast with a random network”
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TECHNICAL SKILLS
Programming Languages: Python, C++, Java
Computer Skills: Bash terminal, Linux, Microsoft Office Suite
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant for Advanced Biochemistry, Stanford Department of Chemistry 2018
General Chemistry Tutor at the LMU Academic Resource Center 2014-2017
Review course and lab material, successfully demonstrate problem solving and studying habits, encourage student curiosity and self-reliance for improved performance in General Chemistry courses at Loyola Marymount University.
Teaching Assistant for Physical Chemistry Lab, LMU Department of 2016-2017 Chemistry and Biochemistry
Prepare laboratory experiments, facilitate group discussion, aid in students’ exploration and understanding of concepts in physical chemistry, and provide feedback on lab reports that strengthens students’ scientific writing style.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship 2018-2022
Stanford Graduate Fellowship in Science and Engineering 2017-2020
Loyola Marymount University Trustee Scholar 2013-2017
Seaver College of Science and Engineering Summer Fellowship 2016
University Honors Program Summer Research Fellowship 2015
Energy Solutions Foundation Scholar 2011
AWARDS AND HONORS
Recognition for Outstanding Undergraduate Research and poster presentation, 2017 ACS COMP
At Loyola Marymount University:
Program Scholar Award, Biochemistry 2017
Presidential Citation 2017
Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Honors Society 2016
The American Chemical Society Division of Physical Chemistry Award for the 2016 Top Performing Student in Physical Chemistry for 2015-2016
LMYOU Campaign Honoree 2016
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PolyEd Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry for the 2015 Outstanding Sophomore Biochemistry Major
National Collegiate Honors Conference Representative 2015
CRC Press Annual Freshman Chemistry Achievement 2014 Award to Best Major in General Chemistry
Dean’s List 2013-2016
