Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Roosevelt University, College of Science, Health & Pharmacy
Margaret E. Olson, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in the Roosevelt University, College of Science, Health & Pharmacy. Research in the Olson Laboratory focuses on novel approaches for overcoming antibiotic resistance by targeting mechanisms of bacterial virulence. In particular, the Olson Laboratory runs two programs, the first seeks to develop inhibitors of Hfq hexamerization and the second aims to redesign known inhibitors of LpxC as irreversible scaffolds.
Dr. Olson received her PhD from the University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry under the mentorship of Professor Daniel A. Harki. Her thesis utilized high-throughput screening and chemical synthesis for the discovery of APOBEC3 cytosine deaminase inhibitors. From 2016-2019, she completed postdoctoral training at Scripps Research under the mentorship of Professor Kim D. Janda. Her work focused on developing irreversible inhibitors of Botulinum neurotoxin A and evaluating immunopharmacotherapies for methamphetamine and cocaine use. Dr. Olson has contributed 23 publications to the literature.
Throughout her training and early career, Dr. Olson has received national funding through an AACP New Investigator Award, National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships and an American Chemical Society Division of Medicinal Chemistry Predoctoral Fellowship. She currently serves as Chair of the American Chemical Society, Division of Medicinal Chemistry Young Medicinal Chemists Committee and has trained more than 15 student researchers.