His research is focused on early-stage firm financing, the interactions between angel investors and venture capitalists, the differences between founder CEOs and professional CEOs, and the IPO process. His recent work has focused on the governance of early stage firms and the influence of market competition on firm governance choice. He has won several research awards including the best paper award in corporate finance at the 2012 Financial Management Association and the best paper award at the 2011 Financial Research Association. Professor Johnson teaches Investments and Portfolio Management at the undergraduate and graduate level.