After postdoctoral training at Washington University School of Medicine, he began his scientific career at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Olson’s discoveries at the interface of developmental biology and medicine have illuminated the fundamental principles of organ formation and have provided new concepts in the quest for cardiovascular therapeutics.

His most recent work has provided a new strategy for correction of Duchenne muscular dystrophy using CRISPR gene editing.

[5] Olson serves on the advisory boards of numerous organizations and has founded multiple biotechnology companies to translate the discoveries from his laboratory to the clinic.

[citation needed] In his spare time, he plays guitar and harmonica with The Transactivators, a rock band inspired by the Texas musician, Willie Nelson, who created the professorship that supports Olson's research.