Dr. John Dawson

Dr. John Dawson is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Associate Dean Academic in the College of Biological Science at the University of Guelph. He was the founding Director of the College’s Office of Educational Scholarship and Practice (COESP), where he played a central role in advancing evidence-based teaching, curriculum innovation, and scholarly approaches to undergraduate education.

Dr. Dawson’s work bridges molecular biology, computational science, and education scholarship. His research program focuses on understanding how molecular structure gives rise to biological function and disease, while his education scholarship and academic leadership emphasize improving learning, assessment, and program design in the life sciences.

• B.Sc. (Hons) - Wilfrid Laurier
• Ph.D. - Alberta
• Postdoctoral Fellow - Stanford

Dr. Dawson’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac muscle function and disease, with particular emphasis on the structure and regulation of actin and associated contractile proteins. Actin is one of the most abundant and evolutionarily conserved proteins in eukaryotic cells, and mutations in cardiac actin are a cause of inherited cardiomyopathies. Despite their clinical importance, the molecular mechanisms linking these mutations to disease remain incompletely understood.

The Dawson Lab uses an integrated approach combining protein biochemistry, biophysics, computational modeling, and organismal biology to investigate how structural changes in actin alter muscle function. This work includes biochemical and single-molecule assays to examine protein function, molecular dynamics simulations to explore structural and allosteric effects, and zebrafish models to link molecular changes to whole-organism cardiac outcomes.

Through this multi-scale approach, the lab seeks to connect atomic-level changes in protein structure with physiological consequences relevant to human heart disease. This work has implications for understanding disease mechanisms, interpreting genetic variation, and informing future therapeutic strategies.

In parallel with his scientific research, Dr. Dawson has an active and nationally recognized program of scholarship in post-secondary education. His work focuses on curriculum design, learning outcomes, assessment practices, and the use of evidence-based teaching approaches in large and complex science programs.

As founding Director of the Office of Educational Scholarship and Practice, he led initiatives through the COVID-19 pandemic aimed at strengthening teaching culture, supporting faculty development, and integrating educational research into curricular decision-making. His work has contributed to institutional approaches to assessment, experiential learning, and program-level coordination.

Dr. Dawson has received multiple awards for teaching excellence and educational leadership, including the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, the University of Guelph’s John Bell Award, and the UGFA Distinguished Professorial Teaching Award.

Since 2022, Dr. Dawson has served as Associate Dean Academic in the College of Biological Science. In this role, he provides leadership in undergraduate curriculum development, academic policy, program review, and teaching innovation. His work focuses on aligning academic programs with evolving scientific, professional, and societal needs while maintaining strong disciplinary foundations.

He has played a key role in initiatives related to experiential learning, assessment reform, curriculum renewal, and the integration of emerging technologies and data literacy into life science education. His leadership emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making.

Dr. Dawson has supervised more than 20 graduate students and numerous undergraduate researchers. His trainees have gone on to careers in academia, industry, medicine, and science education. His mentorship philosophy emphasizes scientific rigor, intellectual independence, and professional development, with a strong focus on preparing students for diverse career pathways.

• Molecular mechanisms of cardiomyopathy

• Actin structure, dynamics, and allostery

• Computational modeling of protein function

• Zebrafish models of cardiac disease

• Science education research and curriculum design

• Academic leadership and teaching innovation

  Teaching Awards:

• 2021 3M National Teaching Fellowship, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
• 2021 John Bell Award, University of Guelph Secretariat
• 2012 University of Guelph Faculty Association Distinguished Professorial Award, College of Biological Sciences.
• 2007 Provost's Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Guelph.
• 2006 Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Biological Sciences.
• 2006 Special Merit Award, University of Guelph Faculty Association.