Nathaniel Olson

Nathaniel Olson is an accomplished Aerospace Engineer at NASA specializing in thermal protection systems (TPS), focusing on materials and processes. Currently, Nathaniel leads R&D projects for ablative and reusable TPS and supports the Commercial Crew Program through design reviews and technical guidance. Previous experience includes serving as a NASA Space Technology Research Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where Nathaniel developed thermally stable aerogels and collaborated with NASA Glenn Research Center on extreme environment material projects. Nathaniel has also held positions as a NASA JSC Pathways Intern, focusing on additive manufacturing technologies for heat shields, and as an undergraduate research assistant, where Nathaniel contributed to catalytic material development. Academic credentials include a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a BS in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University.