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Dr. Olson is the Director of Health Research for the Wildlife Conservation Society.

She has diverse research experience investigating and mitigating wildlife health and zoonotic disease threats, often associated with anthropogenic drivers, and helping grow sustainable and effective wildlife health surveillance systems.

She trained in environmental research and public health, studying the influence of deforestation and the environment on human malaria. More recently her research focuses on front-line wildlife conservation and One Health challenges, including the wildlife trade and emerging infectious diseases, the Ebola virus in great apes and bats, avian influenza in wild birds, and white-nose syndrome in North American bats.

Dr. Olson’s work has intersected with institutions and organizations from different One Health sectors, including the United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Defense, Science and Nature for People Partnership, the Arcus Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, WHO, WOAH, FAO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and U.S. National Institutes of Health. 

She relies on a vast network of professional experts in the specific areas of conservation, disease ecology, environmental science, qualitative and quantitative social science, global change, movement ecology, population health, climate change, wildlife health surveillance, and data management. 

Dr. Olson holds a Ph.D. in Population Health and Environment & Resources as well as B.Sc. (Microbiology) and B.A. (German).