Cynthia Atherton, Ph.D.
Program Officer
Cynthia Atherton is a program officer for the Science Program.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Cynthia worked with the CMELS Directorate (Chemistry, Materials, Earth, Life Sciences) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, most recently as a deputy group leader. From 1986-2008, she served as principal investigator for numerous investigations, and also developed, ran and analyzed global atmospheric computer simulations for national and international studies including the IPCC Assessment Report 4 (2007). Previously, she served as an engineer in the Air Pollution Division at the U.S. EPA New England Regional Laboratory. Cynthia has written more than 20 journal articles and invited book chapters, and she developed and co-chaired a biweekly seminar series on atmospheric science from 2004-2006. The National Academy of Sciences invited Cynthia to serve on the National Research Council Committee on Atmospheric Chemistry from 1999-2001.
Cynthia also has extensive community service and volunteer experience, leading wilderness adventures and serving as a counselor for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in Northern California, and teaching hands-on-science to elementary school children in Pleasanton.
Cynthia earned her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of California, Davis, her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her B.S. from the California Institute of Technology.