NIDCR Names King Director of Extramural Activities
Dr. Lynn Mertens King has been chosen as the director of NIDCR’s Division of Extramural Activities (DEA). A long-serving leader within NIDCR, she began the role on Jan. 3, after having worked in DEA since 2001.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead the DEA, having worked in the division in different roles, and among an accomplished and dedicated team of individuals in the division and across NIDCR,” said King. “I welcome the opportunity to apply my experience and expertise in scientific administration to new challenges serving as the DEA director and continuing to support NIDCR’s mission to improve dental, oral and craniofacial health through research and training.”
Before becoming director, King was chief of the Research Training and Career Development Branch within DEA, where she served as the principal advisor to the NIDCR director on administrative and fiscal management of the extramural research training portfolio. Prior to that role, she was the chief of DEA’s Scientific Review Branch, a role she held after serving for 5 years as a scientific review officer.
While with DEA, she initiated a dental specialty and Ph.D. program funding opportunity announcement to support career development of dentist-scientists along with a new Mentoring Network program to enhance research career advancement of underrepresented postdoctoral and early-career faculty investigators.
“DEA has been doing great work and Lynn has played a major role in the stories of several successful programs over the years,” said NIDCR director Dr. Rena D’Souza. “Her experience and dedication bode well for her success in this expanded role. I am confident that under Lynn’s guidance and leadership DEA will help advance NIDCR’s strategic priorities in significant ways.”
A former assistant professor at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, King earned her Ph.D. in population biology from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University in population genetics and molecular evolution.
She has won numerous awards for her contributions to NIDCR and led efforts to enhance the research careers of dentist-scientists and promoted diversity in dental, oral and craniofacial research.