Professor of Biology, Colorado Mesa University
Roles: Chief Science Officer
Dr. Johanna Varner is the Chief Science Officer for Limelight Rainforest. She is a small mammal biologist with diverse skills in science, engineering, participatory science, and communication. She holds a B.S. and M.Eng. in Engineering from MIT and a PhD in Ecology from the University of Utah. She also has formal training in mass media, having worked as a reporter at KQED Science in San Francisco. She has received numerous high-profile awards for public engagement in science, including the AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement in Science and serving as an IF/THEN Ambassador. At Limelight Rainforest, she integrates engineering, ecology, and molecular biology into cohesive biodiversity assessments and manages the communication of these disciplines to diverse, international stakeholders.
Education
- PhD, Biology, University of Utah
- M. Eng., Biomedical Engineering, MIT
- B.S., Biology, MIT