Wilma Olson

Wilma Olson

Wilma K. Olson is the Mary I. Bunting professor at the BioMaPS institute for Quantitative Biology [ [http://www.biomaps.rutgers.edu/ BioMaPS institute of Quantitative Biology] ] at Rutgers University. Prof. Olson has her own research group on the New Brunswick campus. Although she is a polymer chemist by training, her research aims to understand the influence of chemical architecture on the conformation, properties, and interactions of nucleic acids.

Education

Wilma Olson received her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Delaware in 1967, with honors and distinction. During her studies, she received the A.C.S. (Delaware Section) Student Award.Olson obtained her Ph.D. in 1971 at Stanford University, where she studied the configurational statistics of polynucleotide chains. Her advisor was polymer scientist Paul J. Flory, who would win the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1974.

Professional Career

Prof. Olson remained at the Flory group for a post doc research, after which she became a Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellow with geneticist Charles R. Cantor at Columbia University.In 1972, Olson became an assistant professor at Rutgers University and full professor in 1979. During her time at Rutgers, she was a visiting professor at the University of Basel in Switzerland (1979-1980) and at the Polymer Chemistry Department of the Jilin University in Changchun, China (1981).

Wilma Olson was involved in setting up the nucleic acid database, in collaboration with Helen M. Berman.

Research

Prof Olson’s studies DNA as polymers, with atoms and chemical bonds. She studies the interaction between DNA and structural proteins which do not bind to the nuclear bases, but to the phosphorous-sugar backbone, e.g.histones. Also, the energy needed to form circular DNA is investigated [ [http://dimax.rutgers.edu/~davidm/movies/movies.htm Computational Chemistry movies on DNA] ] Olson aims to clarify the role of local structure on the overall folding of RNA, for instance the helices and loops in the ribosome. A second goal is to uncover structural details of nucleic acid structural transitions, such as those involving different DNA duplexes. This information helps to design new drugs and materials.

Awards

During her career, Wilma Olson had won many awards [ [http://sciencewomen.rutgers.edu/profiles/index.php?q=myCV&id=125 Wilma Olson’s resume] ] , among others
• Douglass College Medal, 2001
• American Chemical Society - North Jersey Section
• Sister Marian José Smith Excellence in Education Award, 2000
• New Jersey Woman of Achievement Award, 1998
• Wellcome Visiting Professorship, New York University, 1997
• American Women in Science, New York Area Scientist of the Year Award, 1994
• National Lecturer and National Award for Excellence and Leadership in Biophysics, Biophysical Society 1994
• National Institute of General Medical Sciences MERIT Award, 1988-98
• Rutgers University Board of Trustees Research Award, 1993

References

Categories


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stella Walsh Olson — Stanisława Walasiewicz bzw. Stella Walsh Olson (* 11. April 1911 in Rypin, Polen; † 4. Dezember 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA) war eine polnisch US amerikanische Leichtathletin. Walasiewicz wurde in Polen geboren. Ihre Eltern emigrierten in die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Helen Hunley — Wilma Helen Hunley, OC, AOE (* 6. September 1920 in Acme, Alberta; † 22. Oktober 2010[1]) war eine kanadische Politikerin. Sie war Gesundheitsministerin und Vizegouverneurin von Alberta. Biografie Hunley besuchte in ihrer Kindheit mehrere… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Arizona Wildcats — University University of Arizona Conference(s) Pacific 12 Conference NCAA …   Wikipedia

  • University of Arizona — Infobox University image size = 198px name = The University of Arizona motto = Bear Down! established = Chartered 1885 calendar = Semester type = Public research university endowment = US $466.7 million president = Robert N. Shelton city = Tucson …   Wikipedia

  • Stanislawa Walasiewicz — Stanisława Walasiewicz bzw. Stella Walsh Olson (* 11. April 1911 in Rypin, Polen; † 4. Dezember 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA) war eine polnisch US amerikanische Leichtathletin. Walasiewicz wurde in Polen geboren. Ihre Eltern emigrierten in die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Stefan Walasiewicz — Stanisława Walasiewicz bzw. Stella Walsh Olson (* 11. April 1911 in Rypin, Polen; † 4. Dezember 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA) war eine polnisch US amerikanische Leichtathletin. Walasiewicz wurde in Polen geboren. Ihre Eltern emigrierten in die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Stella Walsh — Stanisława Walasiewicz bzw. Stella Walsh Olson (* 11. April 1911 in Rypin, Polen; † 4. Dezember 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA) war eine polnisch US amerikanische Leichtathletin. Walasiewicz wurde in Polen geboren. Ihre Eltern emigrierten in die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Walasiewicz — Stanisława Walasiewicz bzw. Stella Walsh Olson (* 11. April 1911 in Rypin, Polen; † 4. Dezember 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA) war eine polnisch US amerikanische Leichtathletin. Walasiewicz wurde in Polen geboren. Ihre Eltern emigrierten in die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lake City, Seattle, Washington — Lake City is the northeast corner of Seattle, centered along Lake City Way NE (SR 522), 7 8 miles (11 13 km) northeast of Downtown. A broader definition of the Lake City area includes all the area between 15th Avenue NE and Lake Washington, and… …   Wikipedia

  • October 2005 in sports — See also: 2005 in sports, October 2005 < October 2005 > S M T W T F S …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”