Kathie L. Olsen

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, a United States government agency. She was also NASA's Chief Scientist from May 24, 1999, to April 2002.

She serves on the advisory board of the Journal of Science Policy & Governance.

Biography Olsen earned a BS with honors from Chatham College in Pittsburgh Pa where she majored in biology and psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience in 1979 with a dissertation entitled Hormonal mechanisms controlling the development and regulation of male-female differences, from University of California, Irvine.

Olsen conducted post-doctoral research in the department of neuroscience at Children's Hospital of Harvard Medical School. There, her NIH fellowship supported her research on neural and genetic mechanisms underlying development and expression of behavior. She started a lab at the State University of New York (SUNY) as an assistant professor. From there, she was recruited to NSF.

Career Olsen worked as a Brookings Institute Fellow from the National Science Foundation in 1995 in Senator Conrad Burns office where he oversaw NASA and NSF appropriations. There, she learned policy. In 1997, she became Senior Staff Associate for Science an Technology Centers at NSF.

Olsen served as Chief Scientist for NASA (1999–2002) and the Acting Associate Administrator for the Enterprise in Biological and Physical Research (2000–2002). She followed by serving in the federal government in scientific leadership positions including Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of NSF, 2005 – 2009. There, she was responsible for management and oversight of program creation and administration, collaborations, strategic and budget development. Previously, she served as Associate Director for the Office of Science and Technology Policy responsible for overseeing science and education policy.

Olsen has served in the academic sector by working with University of Nebraska-Lincoln as the Office of Research and Innovation's primary NSF consultant. She has helped UNL researchers and strengthened the university's research culture and competitiveness.

Olsen was the Vice President for International Programs at the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU).

Olsen is the Founder of KLO International, LLC, a consulting firm in Virginia. Olsen serves on the Carl R. Wose Institute for Genomic Biology advisory panel.

Awards and honors Twice nominated as a member of ARCS in 1995 and 2007. Olsen received University of Nebraska Lincoln's Champion of Research Award to recognize her exceptional contributions to UNL's research mission which included the award of dozens of federal grants. In addition, she was given an admiralship in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. Olsen serves on the advisory board of the Journal of Science Policy and Government.

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Commander of the Norwegian Royal Order of Merit NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal NSF Director's Award of Excellence 2014: Barry M. Goldwater Educator Award from the American Institute of Aeronautic and Astronautics 2000: Barnard College Medal of Distinction Elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Association for Women in Science Elected member of the Explorer's Club 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. Dordrecht: Kluwar Academic Publishers, 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. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 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.) Dordrecht: Kluwar Academic Publishers, 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.) Plenum Press, 1992, pp. 1–40. Olsen, K.L., "Aromatization: Is It Critical for Differentiation of Sexually Dimorphic Behaviors?" in Neurobiology. R. Gilles and J. Balthazart (Eds.) Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 1985, pp. 149–164. Olsen, K.L., "Genetic Determinants of Sexual Differentiation," in Hormones and Behavior in Higher Vertebrates. J. Balthazart, E. Prove, and R. Gilles (Eds.). Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 1983, pp. 138–158, 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.). New York: Raven Press, 1983, pp. 289–306.

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.

Kathie L. Olsen

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