FCSI Alumni Natalie Johnson’s Journey with the FCSI
Natalie Johnson’s time at the Florida Chemical Senses Institute (FCSI), formerly the Center for Smell and Taste (CST), played a key role in shaping her career and research interests. As a former Ph.D. student and researcher, Natalie worked on projects that combined her passion for sensory biology with her curiosity about addiction and reward processing. Now, as an alumna of the program, she reflects on how her experiences at FCSI helped her build the skills and connections that have guided her to where she is today.
Natalie’s involvement with FCSI began during her Ph.D. program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics under the mentorship of Dr. Dan Wesson. She explored diverse projects that intersected the realms of addiction, reward, and sensory biology. Her early work investigated how odors could influence electronic cigarette usage. Later, her focus shifted to studying the mechanics of sniffing, particularly how dopamine release is involved in initiating this behavior.
The opportunity to join FCSI’s highly regarded NIH T32 training grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) was a turning point in her academic journey. The grant, along with sensory biology coursework and valuable mentorship, helped prepare her to apply for an F31 predoctoral fellowship from the NIDCD. Together, these funding opportunities have played a vital role in shaping her career and positioning her within the chemosensory field.
Looking back on her time as a member, she speaks highly of the resources and opportunities available that were available to her. “I was able to learn not only in my own lab but also through the broader FCSI network,” she shared. The institute provided her with travel funds and grants, enabling her to attend conferences like AChemS (Association for Chemoreception Sciences) and the Winter Conference on Brain Research. These experiences allowed her to present her work, network with leading scientists, and gain recognition in the field, including applying for and receiving awards such as the Don Tucker Memorial Award at AChemS which is awarded annually to the most outstanding research presentation by a graduate student.
One of the most influential aspects of Natalie’s time at FCSI was the mentorship she received from Dr. Dan Wesson. As her Ph.D. advisor, Dan’s profound passion for science left a lasting impression on her. “Dan is incredibly passionate about his work, which you can’t help but let rub off on you and make you equally as passionate,” Natalie said. His enthusiasm, combined with the opportunities and support he provided, shaped her approach to research and inspired her to excel in the field.
To today’s FCSI trainees, Natalie offers insightful advice: “Fully engage with the resources available to you. Attend workshops, conferences, and special projects. Talk to fellow trainees and faculty members—it’s easy to stay in your comfort zone, but stepping out of it can lead to incredible opportunities.” She emphasizes the importance of applying for funding opportunities and immersing oneself in chemosensory science to maximize the benefits of being part of FCSI.
Today, Natalie is tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Her current role involves teaching courses like Human Anatomy and Physiology and is currently developing a new course on sensory biology. Alongside teaching, she maintains a research lab focused on chemosensory perception and drug use, building upon the foundation she established at FCSI. While having started her position and lab just in August 2024, she is already on her way excelling in all her roles, and even has begun collecting data with the new students she has recruited to her lab – a remarkable accomplishment for someone who also directed a major core course in her first months of starting as faculty.
Natalie’s expertise in sensory biology made her a strong fit for her role at West Chester University. The skills, knowledge, and experiences she gained at FCSI have had a lasting impact on both her research and teaching approach. Reflecting on her journey, she recognizes how valuable the mentorship, resources, and opportunities at FCSI were in shaping her career, showing how the right support can set someone on a successful path in academia and beyond.
Click here to explore her latest scientific findings https://rdcu.be/d5pbQ