Emma Johnston

Emma Johnston
Emma Johnston at the 2016 NRM Science Conference, University of Adelaide
Born	1973
Fields	Marine ecologist
Institutions	University of New South Wales
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Doctoral advisor	Mick Keough
Notable awards	2012 NSW Science and Engineering Awards; 2014 Nancy Willis Medal for Women in Science

Emma Johnston (born 1973) is the Dean of Science at the University of New South Wales. She is an authority in marine ecology and a former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at UNSW.

Johnston is head of the Applied Marine and Estuarine Ecology Lab at UNSW and has led major projects for industry, government, the Australian Research Council and the Australian Antarctic Science Program.

Johnston was the inaugural Director of the Sydney Harbour Research Program at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.

Johnston's research group at UNSW investigates the ecology of human impacts in marine systems, combining the diverse disciplines of ecology, microbiology and ecotoxicology to expand fundamental understanding and provide recommendations for management.  Her research is conducted in such diverse field environments as Sydney Harbour, Antarctica, the Great Barrier Reef and temperate Australian estuaries.

As of 2017^[update], Johnston has published over 112 peer-reviewed works.

Born in 1973, to parents who were both scientists at that time, Johnston studied physics and chemistry in high school, not biology. However, being a keen sailor from a very young age and interested in all things to do with the water, she decided to focus on biology in her undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science) at the University of Melbourne, which she completed in 1998 with first class Honours.

Johnston completed her PhD in marine ecology in 2002 at the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Mick Keough.