Khyla Johnson

Biography

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Janice Brahney

Khyla Johnson is an M.S. student working with Dr. Janice Brahney. Originally from West Virginia, she graduated from Marshall University in 2022 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a concentration in Environmental Science. After graduating, Khyla briefly pursued work within the biomedical field, where she helped to study both the effect of cannabinoids on pain tolerance and the addictive properties of opioids. She most recently found her way back to ecology upon joining the USGS fire and fuels crew within Sequoia National Park. While amongst the giant sequoias, she helped to quantify fuel loads and map the health of trees throughout the Sierra Nevada. Khyla’s research with the Brahney lab aims to investigate the role that microplastics within soil have on carbon cycling. When not pursuing science, she can be found backpacking, reading, or lifting.