Rita R. Colwell, B.S., M.S., PhD.

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Dr. Rita Colwell is Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology at the University of Maryland and Professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Colwell is a nationally respected scientist and educator and is the author or co-author of 16 books and more than 600 scientific publications. She received a B.S. in Bacteriology and an M.S. in Genetics from Purdue University, and a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington.

She lives with her husband in Bethesda, Maryland.

Dr. Rita Colwell served as Director of the National Science Foundation from 1998 -2004 and was President of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 1991-1998. She was a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990.

She has served as President of the American Society for Microbiology, International Union of Microbiological Societies, Sigma Xi National Science Honorary Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Washington Academy of Sciences. She has also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology. She is the recipient of 35 Honorary Doctor of Science degrees, including Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland); Purdue University, University of Surrey (England), and University of Bergen (Norway) and recipient of the Medal of Distinction, (Queensland, Australia) and University of Qingdao, Peoples Republic of China. Dr. Colwell is a member of federal and state agency advisory committees and boards.

Dr. Colwell has held many advisory positions in the U.S. Government, non-profit science policy organizations, and private foundations, as well as in the international scientific research community. She produced the award-winning film, Invisible Seas, and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.

Dr. Colwell is an honorary member of the microbiological societies of the UK, France, Israel, Bangladesh, and the U.S. and has held several honorary professorships, including the University of Queensland, Australia. A geological site in Antarctica, Colwell Massif, has been named in recognition of her work in the polar regions.

Dr. Colwell is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Sciences.