The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University has appointed Cheryl Selinsky as senior director and chief operating officer. In this role, Selinsky will direct all operational and financial aspects for the research institute.

Biodesign combines the talents of more than 500 scientists and staff to advance research that will improve human health and the health of our planet and make the world a safer place.

“The atmosphere within the Biodesign Institute is one of true collaboration and teamwork, an environment conducive to big science,” says Selinsky. “I count my time there as one of the best opportunities I have had to develop technical skills, mentor junior scientists and drive scientific programs forward.”

Selinsky has 20 years of experience in translational research and product and technology development. Her most recent position was as the senior director for translational research development at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Phoenix.

Selinsky started her career at Vical Inc., where she researched and developed vaccines. She conducted research in the Biodesign Institute’s Center for Innovations in Medicine, after which she joined the International Genomics Consortium where she managed the biospecimen repository for the Cancer Genome Atlas Project and held a joint position within Caris-MPI’s Tissue Banking and Analysis Center.

“We are looking forward to Cheryl rejoining Biodesign in this new position,” says Raymond DuBois, executive director of the institute. “Her experience in both administration and science will help us run the Biodesign Institute more efficiently, as she oversees our day-to-day operations and helps to meet the needs of our research teams. We are impressed by Cheryl’s enthusiasm for groundbreaking science and her understanding of the myriad of details involved in intense, high-level research.”

Selinsky earned a doctorate in microbiology with an emphasis in immunology at Colorado State University. She completed postdoctoral training in the CSU Department of Microbiology and Cytologic LLC in Fort Collins, Colo. Her bachelor’s degree is in biology from University of Southern Colorado. Selinsky holds a patent on a method for enhancing immune responses.