Kathie L. Olsen

Dr. Kathie L. Olsen "joined the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Executive Office of the President as Associate Director in early August 2002. As Associate Director, Olsen serves as OSTP Director Dr. John H. Marburger, III's deputy for science. Prior to her confirmation she was Chief Scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In this position, she served at the Administrator's senior scientific advisor and principal interface with the national and international scientific community.

"Before joining NASA in May 1999, Olsen served as the Senior Staff Associate for the Science and Technology Centers in the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities. From February 1996 until November 1997, she was a Brookings Institute Legislative Fellow and then a NSF detailee in the Office of Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT). Preceding her work on Capitol Hill, she served for two years as the Acting Deputy Director for the Division of Integrative Biology and Neuroscience at NSF where she has worked and held numerous other science-related positions dating back to 1984.

"Olsen received her bachelor's degree in science with honors from Chatham College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, majoring in both biology and psychology and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her doctorate from the Department of Psychobiology at the University of California, Irvine. After spending one year as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neuroscience at Children's Hospital of Harvard Medical School, Boston, Olsen moved to the State University of New York at Stony Brook where she was a research scientist at Long Island Research Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Medical School until 1988.

"Her research on the neural and genetic mechanisms underlying the development and expression of behavior was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. Olsen has published numerous scientific articles, book chapters, and co-edited a book entitled The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behavior. She has earned many awards, including the National Science Foundation Director's Superior Accomplishment Award, The International Behavioral Neuroscience Society's award, and The Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Award in recognition of outstanding contributions for research and education in the field. In May, 2000, she received the Barnard Medal of Distinction, Barnard College's most significant recognition of individuals for demonstrated excellence in conduct of their lives and careers. She also is a recipient of NASA's June 2001 Outstanding Leadership Medal."

Source: OSTP Biography.