Dr. Catherine Johnson, the Robert H. Quenon Associate Professor of mining and explosives engineering, has been named interim chair of the mining and explosives engineering department. Her term began Aug. 1.

Johnson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mining and quarry engineering from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and a Ph.D. in mining engineering with an explosives emphasis from the University of Kentucky.

Johnson is an expert in shock physics and serves as director of S&T’s Explosives Research Facility. She also serves as associate director of the PRECISE-TBI Education Core for the VA Interagency Resource Center, supporting advancements in traumatic brain injury research.

Since joining Missouri S&T, Johnson has secured more than $20.8 million in collaborative research funding and published 54 peer-reviewed journal articles. Her research focuses on the effects of high explosives and blasting agents, including blast-related traumatic brain and lung injuries, coal dust explosions and quarry blasting.

Johnson has received honors including Missouri S&T’s Woman of the Year award in 2023, the university research award, recognition as a dean’s scholar, multiple departmental research and teaching awards, and the International Society of Explosives Engineers’ President’s Award. She was also named an inaugural member of the University of Missouri System Presidential Engagement Fellows program.