The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University has named Stephen R. Saunders, MBA, director of planning and control for sponsored projects. In this role, he will oversee key financial controls and business planning for the institute.
“Steve’s 25 years of experience in project management and process improvements will strengthen our systems,” said Jeffrey Darbut, director of finance and operations at Biodesign.
Saunders has expertise in implementing enterprise resource planning systems that unify multiple data sources and processes into one system. Prior to his new post, Saunders was a project management consultant with Northrop Grumman, assisting with implementation of a planning system for building ships for the U.S. Navy. He also installed a financial reporting system for a large equipment manufacturer. Other assignments have included several positions as director of information systems. Saunders also has instituted processes to bring organizations in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Saunders earned a Master of Business Administration from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in astronomy and physics from Williams College, in Williamstown, Mass., where he graduated cum laude.
The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University pursues research to create personalized medical diagnostics and treatments, outpace infectious disease, clean the environment, develop alternative energy sources, and enhance national security.
Each month, innovative research from the Biodesign Institute appears in the world’s premier scientific journals. Many such studies have graced the covers of these journals, showcasing Biodesign research ranging from water remediation to nanometer-scale structures built from DNA.
Alternate Lifestyles: Searching for Life in the Shadow Biosphere
Tiny Legos That Build Themselves: The Magic of DNA Nanostructures
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