Katrina Waters
Deputy Director
Core Leader
Dr. Katrina Waters is a Distinguished Chief Scientist & Laboratory Fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). With 25 years of experience in systems biology, bioinformatics, and computational toxicology, her research interests are focused on the intersection of environmental exposures and infectious disease on human health. More than 150 publications represent a national and international reputation she has built through her leadership and innovation in multi-omics data integration and modeling to elucidate complex disease processes and identify therapeutic strategies and interventions. Dr. Waters has made significant contributions to the field through her leadership in national research programs, including the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory (NVBL) program on airborne and environmental transmission of COVID-19, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Centers for Predictive Modeling of Infectious Diseases. Her work in machine learning, biomarker discovery, and public health has had broad translational impact by influencing toxicological risk assessments and advancing public health protection. A recognized global leader, Dr. Waters is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and has served on multiple National Academy of Sciences (NAS) committees and advisory boards, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Board of Scientific Counselors, underscoring her impact in advancing translational environmental health sciences. Dr. Waters holds joint faculty appointments with Oregon State University (OSU) and the University of Washington.