Dr. Paul G. Johnson is an associate professor in the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate in the College of Agriculture. His research is in turfgrass research with emphases in management of highly used turfgrass areas and using plant genetics to develop alternative, low-water use turfgrasses adapted to the Intermountain West climate. Currently, Dr. Johnson is collaborating with an extensive group of scientists at USU, the USDA-ARS, the Utah Botanical Center, the United States Golf Association, and around the country on salt and drought tolerance in Poa (the bluegrasses). He also uses his genetics background to work closely with the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program to assess the suitability of turfgrass species and varieties to the western climate. Dr. Johnson has advised many graduate students and is currently serving as his department’s graduate studies coordinator.

Prior to coming to USU in 1998, Dr. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University, worked for two years as an assistant golf course superintendent, earned a Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota. He also was on the faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a research assistant professor. Dr. Johnson grew up on a small family farm in northeast Iowa.