Skip to content

Biography · Science & Inventions

Ida Stephens Owens

1939–2020

United States

Source image for Ida Stephens OwensLoading image…
Visit the source record ↗

Biography

Ida Stephens Owens (September 13, 1939 – February 24, 2020) was an American biochemist known for her work with drug-detoxifying enzymes. She received her Ph.D from Duke University in 1967, making her one of the first two African Americans to receive a doctorate from the school. She spent her career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she worked from 1968 to 2017 and pioneered the study of the genetics of human diseases and drug metabolism.

Sources & collection details

Wikipedia contributors — original record ↗

Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Continue exploring Series 1

Science & Invention →Education & Ideas →

Explore all Series 1 cards →

Keep exploring