Brooke Johnson

Brooke Johnson is a natural product chemist, chemical educator, and interdisciplinary scholar who is excited about making discoveries, empowering students and the intersection of chemistry and Black studies. As a postdoctoral fellow at Smith, in addition to teaching introductory chemistry courses, she studies natural products from extremophiles and enzymes involved in siderophore biosynthesis in professor Lesley-Ann Giddings’ lab. Prior to joining Smith, Brooke taught Afrochemistry (the study of Black-life matter) at her alma mater, Rice University, and supported students in general chemistry. She obtained her Ph.D. in chemistry at Princeton University where her research in professor Mohammad Seyedsayamdost’s lab focused on uncovering new enzymatic reactions in natural product biosynthesis. Brooke is passionate about making connections between science and the real world and inspiring retention and excellence in science.