WASHINGTON — The US Department of Agriculture announced that it would appoint Michelle Catlin, PhD, as chief scientist for the Food Safety and Inspection Service starting Dec. 31.

Catlin will work as the primary scientific advisor on public health and food safety matters affecting the agency’s mission. Her primary responsibility is scientific initiatives within the Office of Public Health Science.

In previous roles from 1999 to 2004, Catlin worked for the National Academy of Science. During 2004, Catlin joined FSIS as a senior scientist. Her most recent role included International Coordination Executive, in which she oversaw all of FSIS’ international activities.

Catlin holds a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in life sciences and a Master of Science in pharmacology from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and a PhD in toxicology from the Department of Environmental Health of the University of Washington at Seattle.

With the promotion, Margaret Burns-Rath, who currently serves as deputy assistant administrator for the Office of International Coordination, will take over Catlin’s previous role of International Coordination Executive.