Linda J. Olson

Linda J. Olson, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biophysics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the MCW Cancer Center. With over 25 years of research experience at MCW, she transitioned from a Research Scientist II position (2000-2016) to her current faculty role, while also serving as the X-ray facility manager since 2014. Her academic journey began with a BA in Chemistry from Lawrence University (1983-1987), followed by a PhD in Chemistry from UW-Milwaukee where she studied eukaryotic DNA binding proteins.

Dr. Olson's research program focuses on structural biology of the mannose 6-phosphate receptor system, employing X-ray crystallography to investigate how these receptors recognize and bind lysosomal enzymes. Her work has revealed multiple binding sites in these receptors, characterized pH-dependent conformational changes, and elucidated mechanisms of glycan recognition. More recently, her lab has expanded into cancer research, studying glucosidase II inhibitors to prevent breast cancer metastasis and investigating human salt inducible kinase 2.

Analysis of her 29 publications shows a consistent focus on structural glycobiology, with increasing emphasis on cancer-related applications in recent years. Her work bridges fundamental structural biology with potential therapeutic applications, particularly in understanding molecular mechanisms relevant to cancer metastasis. She has contributed numerous protein structures to the Protein Data Bank, advancing the field's understanding of carbohydrate recognition proteins.

• Graduate Student Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year, MCW (2016-2017)
• Outstanding Graduate School Teacher, MCW (2017-2018)

Dr. Olson currently serves as Principal Investigator on two research grants: an MCW Cancer Center Pilot Award for studying glucosidase II inhibitors to inhibit breast cancer metastasis, and a Research Affairs Committee award for investigating human salt inducible kinase 2. Her X-ray crystallography facility supports structural research across the institution, demonstrating her technical leadership in this specialized area. Her lab maintains active collaborations with researchers studying glycobiology, cancer mechanisms, and protein structure-function relationships.