Australian Museum Scientist secures prestigious role at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) and Australian Museum’s Chief Scientist, Dr Rebecca Johnson, is set to take on the top science role at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington DC. 

Dr Johnson will be leaving the Australian Museum (AM) in early 2020 to take up the prestigious role. 

Dr Johnson, who has been at the AM for 16 years, five of those as Director of AMRI, received international recognition in 2018 after leading the international team that sequenced the genome of the koala for the first time.

Dr Johnson advised “it is a privilege to be selected as the Chief Scientist and Associate Director of Science at the NMNH – an institution which represents the highest levels of scientific endeavor and achievement.”

Director and Chief Executive of the Australian Museum, Kim McKay AO said, the Australian Museum is delighted for Dr Johnson’s outstanding success and while it is sad to lose her from the AM team, her contribution to the international museum sector will ensure she continues to collaborate with the AM well into the future.

McKay added “Dr Johnson is a talented, energetic and pioneering leader in STEM and was the first woman to be appointed to the position of Director AMRI. She is deservedly respected by her peers in Australia and around the world.”

One of Australia’s foremost experts in Koala conservation genomics, McKay said Dr. Johnson has also played a significant role in informing government policy.

McKay noted “during her time at the AM, Dr Johnson established the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics (ACWG) and has played a critical leadership role in taking the AMRI to a new level by broadening the impact of museum science on an international scale.”

During her tenure at the AMRI, Dr Johnson has implemented the following initiatives:

· Developed the strategic vision for the Australian Museum Research Institute (Australian Museum Science strategy 2017-2021);

· Negotiated, for the first time in the history of the Australian Museum, joint curator positions with three Australian universities (in palaeontology, amphibian conservation, ichthyology and archaeology);

· Introduced the concept of ‘flagship projects’ as a mechanism of capturing the multidisciplinary nature of museum research including: FROG ID, AM ICONS, the Koala Genome Consortium, the AM Expeditions program.

Dr. Johnson plans to take up her new role at the NMNH in March 2020.

The Australian Museum has commenced an international search for the next Director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, through Odgers Berndsten.

Image of Dr Rebecca Johnson at Featherdale Wildlife Park