HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology has appointed Dr. Florencia Behn as its new Vice President for Research Administration and Development, effective November 1, 2024.

In her new role, Dr. Behn will lead the institute’s research administration, overseeing policies and strategic partnerships with external organizations. She will also collaborate with Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Rick Myers to represent HudsonAlpha’s research mission on various committees and workgroups.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Behn in this leadership position,” said HudsonAlpha President Neil Lamb, PhD. “Her contributions to the institute have been invaluable, and I’m excited to see her role expand.”

Starting in 2025, Dr. Behn will also oversee the Strategic Software and Greenhouse teams, ensuring they continue to support the scientific needs of HudsonAlpha’s faculty. She will continue to provide strategic oversight for research communications and the institute’s Trainee Program, which supports graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Dr. Behn expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I’m honored to continue my work with HudsonAlpha. The institute’s mission of translating research into practical applications through a unique environment of research, entrepreneurship, and education is what drew me here 15 years ago, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

Before this appointment, Dr. Behn served as Senior Director of Research Affairs at HudsonAlpha, where she led sponsored projects and helped secure grant funding for various research initiatives. She has also been a research scientist in the Myers Lab. Dr. Behn holds a PhD in genetics from Stanford University and was an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow.