Dan Johnson, PhD

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and Forensic Applications of Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry

The mission of the DPAA is to "Provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation." A huge variety of excellent educational resources on the agency and its mission can be found on the DPAA website.

In addition, applications of stable isotope techniques in the forensic sciences are increasingly varied and are growing in their frequency. The Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) Network is a group of practicing isotope ratio mass spectrometrics focused on "raising the awareness of the relevance and importance of IRMS in forensic science, crime detection and reduction." Information about the organization, its services, and resources on forensic applications of isotopes may be found on the FIRMS website.

Mental Health

The United States has been experiencing a mental health crisis more broadly, but the effects have been especially acute among graduate students; for example, a 2018 study found that nearly half of graduate students within the biosciences were depressed. I have been a staunch advocate for cultural change within academic to reduce stress and normalize discussion of mental health concerns. My efforts in this realm have included developing a session on work-life balance at Caltech's 2018 Graduate Student-Faculty Colloquium, taking a course in Mental Health First Aid, and openly discussing some of my own mental health struggles at various times in my life. Check out some of the links below for resources to support yourself and others in their journey toward improved mental health.

   - Mental Health First Aid resources
   - National Alliance on Mental Illness

STEM Outreach

I enjoy speaking to the general public and to broad scientific audiences about my research and about science in general. I have participated in multiple March for Science events doing demonstrations on ocean acidification for the general public. Recently, I have also begun participating in the Skype a Scientist program that connects scientists with K-12 educators for classroom presentations. Please feel free to reach out to me via any of the mechanisms listed on the Contact page if you or your students are interested in learning more about my work within the geosciences.  

Justice, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

I am a first generation college student, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and an individual who attained his K-12 education in the racially homogenous, rural Midwest. Given my background and my experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student, I believe that improving justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDEI) within the geosciences is imperative for our field to grow and flourish. I have made consistent efforts to educate myself on JDEI issues and create a more welcoming community within the geosciences for individuals of all backgrounds. These include participating in Caltech's Safe Zone program, raising awareness of unconscious bias in STEM through Professor Melany Hunt's Giving Voice project, serving as an editor for the Women Doing Science Instagram page, completing the Caltech Project for Effective Teaching (CPET) Certificate of Interest program, serving on Caltech's Graduate Title IX Committee, and compiling community service and anti-racist resources in a Caltech community newsletter during the COVID-19 pandemic. I highly recommend checking out these resources as well as the ones listed below if you are interested in improving your pedagogical methods and increasing the inclusivity of your lab or classroom.

- Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT)
- International Association for Geoscience Diversity
- National Organization of Gay & Lesbian Scientists & Technical Professionals (NOGLSTOP)