Johnson receives 2026 CANR Outstanding Alumni Award
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EmailNick Johnson, Ph.D., will receive the 2026 CANR Outstanding Alumni Award during the ANR Awards on Friday, February 27.
Dr. Nick Johnson will receive the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Outstanding Alumni Award at the February 27, 2026, ANR Awards Program.
The CANR Outstanding Alumni Award honors individuals who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary professional accomplishments and who exemplify the highest standards of integrity and character.
Dr. Johnson is Director and Research Ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hammond Bay Biological Station and a dual CANR alumnus, earning his M.S. in 2005 and Ph.D. in 2008 in Fisheries and Wildlife. His career reflects a strong commitment to advancing science in service of environmental solutions and supporting the land-grant mission.
Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on the ecology, behavior and life history of native and invasive fishes with particular emphasis on the invasive sea lamprey, a species that threatens the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing economy. His work connects fundamental science with applied management and has led to innovative techniques for invasive species control.
Appointed Hammond Bay Biological Station director in 2022, Dr. Johnson leads a team of scientists developing supplemental controls for sea lamprey and providing technical support for implementation of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s control programs. In his role, Johnson has demonstrated a deep understanding of the complex challenges facing sea lamprey control and has been instrumental in finding innovative and practical solutions.
Dr. Johnson also leads the Supplemental Control Project (SUPCON), a ten-year initiative that is integrating multiple new methods to the two primary control tools used on sea lampreys, barriers and lampricides. While focused on sea lamprey in the Great Lakes, this work benefits fisheries management globally.
A prolific researcher, Dr. Johnson has published 114 peer-reviewed articles and chapters including 27 as first author, making him the most scientifically accomplished researcher in the 72-year history of Hammond Bay Biological Station.
Beyond research, Dr. Johnson has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to MSU students and faculty. Since 2010, he has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, publishing 68 papers with MSU collaborators involving 21 faculty members and 20 graduate students and securing $9.96 million in research funding for projects that include MSU partnerships. He has co-advised three M.S. and three Ph.D. students, mentored undergraduate research teams and delivered 10 seminars and guest lectures at MSU.
His leadership was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. As acting station chief, Dr. Johnson prioritized MSU graduate students and early-career researchers, ensuring they could complete critical fieldwork despite restrictions. He developed health and safety protocols, trained technicians and facilitated experiments for MSU faculty, enabling research continuity during a challenging time.
In addition to his scientific and academic contributions, Dr. Johnson and his family operate Ox Heights, a chestnut farm in northern Michigan. Starting with nine chestnut trees in 2016, the farm has grown to over 1,000 grafted European Chestnut trees, with over 8,000 pounds of chestnuts picked in 2024.
