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Michele Lyons, M.A.


Michele Lyons was Curator of the DeWitt Stetten, Jr., Museum of Medical Research starting in 1995; she retired in December 2023, returning as Curator Emerita. She had previously worked at the U.S. Information Agency’s Exhibit Service and the National Building Museum. She received her Master’s Degree in Museum Administration from George Washington University.

At the NIH Stetten Museum, Ms. Lyons aids in the development of physical and virtual exhibits and managing the collection. Her research interests include science and the National Institutes of Health during the 1930's, and the digitization of instrumentation.

Education

  • M.A., Museum Administration, George Washington University
  • B.A., History, University of California at Irvine

Selected work experience

  • 2023-present: CURATOR EMERITA of NIH History and Stetten Museum, Bethesda, MD
  • 1995-2023: CURATOR, Office of NIH History and Stetten Museum, Bethesda, MD
  • 1991-1995: PROGRAM COORDINATOR, Office of Research, U.S. Information Agency, Washington, D.C.
  • 1989-1991: VISUAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST, Exhibits Service, U.S. Information Agency, Washington, D.C.
  • 1988-1989: MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.

Exhibits and selected publications

  • "Christian Boehmer Anfinsen: Protein Folding and the Nobel Prize," physical exhibit, 2018.
  • "Curiosity & Collaboration: The Work of Michael Potter," physical exhibit, 2018.
  • "Innovation and Invention: NIH and Prosthetic Heart Valves," physical exhibit, 2011.
  • "Marshall Nirenberg: Discovering the Genetic Code," physical exhibit, 2010.
  • “70 Acres of Science: The National Institutes of Health Moves to Bethesda,” e-book, 2006.
  • "Siemens 1-A Electron Microscope," physical exhibit, 2004.
  • "Varian A-60 NMR," physical exhibit, 2004.
  • “Martin Rodbell: Discovering How Cells Respond to Signals,” NIH Stetten Museum, physical and web exhibits, 2000.
  • “A Revolution in Progress: Human Genetics and Medical Research,” NIH Stetten Museum, physical and web exhibits, 1998.
  • “The Ultimate Portrait Painter: Howard Bartner and 40 Years of Medical Illustration,” NIH Stetten Museum, physical and web exhibits, 1997.
  • “Researching Disease: Dr. Roscoe Brady & Gaucher Disease,” NIH Stetten Museum, physical and web exhibits, 1996.
  • “Measuring Fluorescence in Medical Research: The AMINCO-Bowman Spectrophotofluorometer,” NIH Stetten Museum, physical and web exhibits, 1996.
  • “Drugs as Opiates, Drugs as Research Tools: Synthetic Opiates and Opioids,” NIH Stetten Museum, physical and web exhibits, 1991.
  • “Computers in Medical Research,” NIH Stetten Museum, 1989, physical exhibit.
  • “An Impact on the World: Three Instruments Invented at NIH,” NIH Stetten Museum, 1987, physical exhibit.
  • “Environmental Action in America,” U.S. Information Agency Exhibits Service, 1989-1990, toured Eastern Europe.
  • “Careers in Museums: A Variety of Vocations,” American Association of Museums (first edition), 1988.
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