"Studying abroad transformed my worldview and career path, so I resonate strongly with Goucher’s global ethos. My goal is to help shape leaders ready to face the next era of public health predicaments."
Jonathan Lawton
Assistant ProfessorPublic Health
Jonathan Lawton is assistant professor of public health at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his Ph.D. in molecular epidemiology from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, focusing on malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to his arrival at Goucher, he taught public health classes in rural Kenya and virology labs at Stevenson University.
Jonathan is interested in the distribution, determinants, and dynamics of infectious diseases. His research bridges the gap between epidemiology and bioinformatics, applying rigorous quantitative methods to better understand and surveil pathogens and inform elimination strategies. His favorite thing about public health is its integration of various disciplines such as biology, sociology, data science, public policy, and environmental science.
Publications
Sobota S., Coulibaly D., Stucke E., Lawton J., et al, “Metalloproteases, L-arginine, and glucose transport in severe malaria; analyses of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic signatures.” Nature Communications 16(4620), 2025.
Lawton J., Zhou A., Stucke E., Takala-Harrison S., Silva J., Travassos M, “Diamonds in the rif: Alignment-free sequence analysis reveals strain-transcendent Plasmodium falciparum antigens amidst extensive genetic diversity.” Infection, Genetics, and Immunity 129(105725), 2025.
Lawton J., Reddy A., Herrera V., Strain R., Mekonnen E., Stearns F., Obae S., Glaser R., “Genome sequences of three temperate actinobacteriophages from clusters FA and AS.” microPublication Biology, 2025.
Bailey R., Lawton J., Niangaly A., et al, “Malian children with hemoglobin C or S trait have reduced serological responses to particular extracellular PfEMP1 domains, but not intracellular PfEMP1 domains, RIFINs, or STEVORs.” Journal of Infection 89(4), 2024.
Lawton J., Lavoie M., Bashorun A., et al, “Individual and Household Factors Associated with Non-disclosure of Positive HIV Status in a Population-Based HIV Serosurvey.” AIDS 37(1), 2023.
A complete list of Jonathan's published work can be found on Google Scholar.
External Awards, Honors, Grants
F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award,
National Institutes of Allergy and Infectous Diseases (2023-2025)
TL1 Predoctoral Clinical and Translational Research Training Award,
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (2022-2023)
Invited Talks
Lawton J., Stucke E., Coulibaly D., et al, “Immune-disabling Plasmodium falciparum variant surface antigens are differentially expressed in cerebral malaria among Malian children”, 2025 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting.
Lawton J., Zhou A., Coulibaly D., et al, “Children with cerebral malaria lack immunity to specific RIFIN and STEVOR antigens”, 2024 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting.
Lawton J., Zhou A., Coulibaly D., et al, “Conserved subgroups of Plasmodium falciparum RIFIN antigens predominate in cerebral malaria cases from Mali and Malawi”, 2023 American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting.
Academic or Professional Associations
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygeine (ASTMH)