Andrew Olshan

Andrew Olshan, PhD, is the Barbara Sorenson Hulka Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, where he also serves as interim associate dean for research. He holds adjunct appointments in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the UNC School of Medicine. With over 30 years at UNC, he previously chaired the Department of Epidemiology from 2006 to 2018. His research focuses on cancer epidemiology and reproductive, perinatal, and pediatric outcomes, emphasizing environmental, social, and genetic risk factors. He leads major studies like the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study and directs the North Carolina Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, funded by the CDC. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and secured NIH, EPA, and CDC grants. His educational contributions include teaching advanced courses in cancer and reproductive epidemiology. Awards include the distinguished professorship, recognizing his leadership in population sciences at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Education: PhD in Epidemiology (University of Washington), MS in Epidemiology (University of Washington), BA in Anthropology (Arizona State University).

Research Interests: Cancer epidemiology (e.g., head and neck, breast), birth defects etiology, environmental exposures, genetic susceptibility, and public health interventions. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address disparities and translational research.

Grants & Awards: Principal investigator for multi-million-dollar NIH, EPA, and CDC grants; CDC grant co-PI for birth defects research; leadership roles in national studies like the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and BD-STEPS initiative.

Labs/Teams: North Carolina Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Study team, and collaborative networks with the CDC and UNC Lineberger.