Kathie L. Olsen
Encyclopedia
Kathie L. Olsen is an American
neuroscientist
who is noted for her work in scientific policy. Between August 2005 and January 2009, she was the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the National Science Foundation
.
degree in biology
and psychology
in 1974 from Chatham College
, graduating with honors. She then obtained her doctoral degree at the University of California, Irvine
in neuroscience
in 1979 with her doctoral thesis, titled Hormonal mechanisms controlling the development and regulation of male-female differences. Upon obtaining her doctorate she accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Neuroscience at Children's Hospital Boston
of Harvard Medical School
.
Prior to her current appointment, Olsen was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of NSF in August 2005. As such, she was responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of program creation and administration; national and international collaborations; merit review processes; strategic and long-term planning and performance; budget development, implementation and reporting; personnel; and operations.
Olsen joined NSF from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Executive Office of the President where, since 2002, she had been the Associate Director and Deputy Director for Science. Her responsibilities included overseeing national and international science and education policy development and federal agency program coordination for the physical sciences, life sciences, environmental science, behavioral and social sciences and education.
Prior to OSTP, Olsen served as Chief Scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (May 1999-April 2002) and the Acting Associate Administrator for Biological and Physical Research (July 2000-March 2002). As Chief Scientist, she served as the Administrator's senior scientific advisor, principal advisor on budget content of the scientific programs and principal interface with the national and international scientific community. As Acting Associate Administrator during the formulation of the new Enterprise for Biological and Physical Research, she oversaw budget development and implementation, recruitment and development of professional and support staff and strategic planning.
Olsen was recruited to NASA from the NSF, where since 1997 she had been Senior Staff Associate for the Science and Technology Centers in the Office of Integrative Activities. From February 1996 until November 1997, she was a Legislative Fellow and detailee from NSF to the Office of Senator Conrad Burns of Montana. Between 1984 and 1996, she served NSF in a variety of administrative and scientific leadership positions. At various times in her early professional career, Olsen also served as a Research Scientist at the State University of New York – Stony Brook's Long Island Research Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Medical School, as well as Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the George Washington University. Her research on neural and genetic mechanisms underlying development and expression of behavior was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
In 2003, Olsen was elected a Fellow
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
Olsen holds numerous other awards from foreign entities, government agencies, institutions and scientific societies. These include the NSF Director's Award of Excellence; awards for outstanding contributions from the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society and the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology; the Barry M. Goldwater Educator Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Capital Section; the University of California, Irvine Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Alumna Award; and the Barnard College Medal of Distinction. She is also an elected Fellow of the Association for Women in Science and an elected member of the Explorers Club. She has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Chatham College, Clarkson University, and University of South Carolina.
Book Chapters
Significant Articles
PhD Thesis
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
neuroscientist
Neuroscientist
A neuroscientist is an individual who studies the scientific field of neuroscience or any of its related sub-fields...
who is noted for her work in scientific policy. Between August 2005 and January 2009, she was the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
.
Education
Olsen obtained a B.S.Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
in 1974 from Chatham College
Chatham College
Chatham University is an American university with a women's undergraduate college and coeducational graduate programs through the doctoral level, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Shadyside neighborhood. The campus population of approximately 2,300 includes undergraduate women and graduate...
, graduating with honors. She then obtained her doctoral degree at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
in neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
in 1979 with her doctoral thesis, titled Hormonal mechanisms controlling the development and regulation of male-female differences. Upon obtaining her doctorate she accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Neuroscience at Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
of Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
.
Career
Olsen became Senior Advisor in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Office of Information and Resource Management on January 18, 2009. In this position, Olsen advises the Foundation's Chief Human Capital Officer as well as NSF senior management on opportunities for NSF-wide management improvement in areas such as strengthening merit review and interdisciplinary research processes, workforce planning, Program Officer training and development, and succession planning.Prior to her current appointment, Olsen was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of NSF in August 2005. As such, she was responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of program creation and administration; national and international collaborations; merit review processes; strategic and long-term planning and performance; budget development, implementation and reporting; personnel; and operations.
Olsen joined NSF from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Executive Office of the President where, since 2002, she had been the Associate Director and Deputy Director for Science. Her responsibilities included overseeing national and international science and education policy development and federal agency program coordination for the physical sciences, life sciences, environmental science, behavioral and social sciences and education.
Prior to OSTP, Olsen served as Chief Scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (May 1999-April 2002) and the Acting Associate Administrator for Biological and Physical Research (July 2000-March 2002). As Chief Scientist, she served as the Administrator's senior scientific advisor, principal advisor on budget content of the scientific programs and principal interface with the national and international scientific community. As Acting Associate Administrator during the formulation of the new Enterprise for Biological and Physical Research, she oversaw budget development and implementation, recruitment and development of professional and support staff and strategic planning.
Olsen was recruited to NASA from the NSF, where since 1997 she had been Senior Staff Associate for the Science and Technology Centers in the Office of Integrative Activities. From February 1996 until November 1997, she was a Legislative Fellow and detailee from NSF to the Office of Senator Conrad Burns of Montana. Between 1984 and 1996, she served NSF in a variety of administrative and scientific leadership positions. At various times in her early professional career, Olsen also served as a Research Scientist at the State University of New York – Stony Brook's Long Island Research Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Medical School, as well as Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the George Washington University. Her research on neural and genetic mechanisms underlying development and expression of behavior was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Distinctions
In 2005, Olsen was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit the Highest honor bestowed by the King of Norway to non-Norwegians.In 2003, Olsen was elected a Fellow
Fellow of the AAAS
Fellow of the AAAS is an honor accorded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to distinguished persons who are members of the Association. Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council for "efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications [which] are...
of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Olsen holds numerous other awards from foreign entities, government agencies, institutions and scientific societies. These include the NSF Director's Award of Excellence; awards for outstanding contributions from the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society and the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology; the Barry M. Goldwater Educator Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Capital Section; the University of California, Irvine Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Alumna Award; and the Barnard College Medal of Distinction. She is also an elected Fellow of the Association for Women in Science and an elected member of the Explorers Club. She has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Chatham College, Clarkson University, and University of South Carolina.
Significant publications
Book- Haug, M, R. Whalen, R.E; Aron, Cl., and Olsen, K (Eds.). The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behaviour. Kluwar Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 1993.
Book Chapters
- Olsen, K.L. and Carlson, A., "Federal Science Policy: A Perspective from Inside the Beltway" In Defining Values for Research and Technology-The University's Changing Role. Greenough, W.T, McConnaughay, P. J., and Kesan, J. P. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, NY, Champaign-Urbana, 2007.
- Olsen, K.L., "Sex and the Mutant Mouse: Strategies for Understanding the Sexual Differentiation of the Brain," in NATO Advanced Research Workshop: The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behaviour. M. Haug, R. Whalen, Cl. Aron, and K.L. Olsen (Eds.) The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behaviour. Kluwar Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 1993.
- Olsen, K.L., "Genetic Influences on Sexual Behavior Differentiation," in Sexual Differentiation: A Life-Span Approach, Handbook of Neurobiology. Handbook of Behavioral Neurobiology. A. Gerall, H. Moltz, and I.L. Ward (Eds.) 10, pp. 1–40, Plenum Press, 1992.
- Olsen, K.L., "Aromatization: Is It Critical for Differentiation of Sexually Dimorphic Behaviors?" in Neurobiology, R. Gilles and J. Balthazart (Eds.) Springer-Verlag, Berlin/Heidelberg, pp. 149–164, 1985.
- Olsen, K.L., "Genetic Determinants of Sexual Differentiation," in Hormones and Behavior in Higher Vertebrates, J. Balthazart, E. Prove, and R. Gilles (Eds.) Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp. 138–158, 1983.
- Fox, T.O., Olsen, K.L., Vito, C.C., and Wieland, S.J., "Putative Steroid Receptors: Genetics and Development," in Molecular Genetics and Neurosciences: A New Hybrid, F.O. Schmitt, S.J. Bird, and F.E. Bloom (Eds.), Raven Press, New York, pp. 289–306, 1982.
Significant Articles
- Olsen, Kathie. L.; Neysa M. Call; Melissa A. Summers; and Ann B. Carlson. The Evolution of Excellence: Policies, Paradigms, and Practices Shaping U.S. Research and Development. In China, India, and the United States (Special Issue). Technology in Society: An International Journal. Vol. 30, No. 3-4, 2008.
PhD Thesis
- Hormonal mechanisms controlling the development and regulation of male-female differences, Doctoral thesis, 1979
See also
- National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)