Science Foundation Arizona Names William C. Harris President/CEO; Director of Science Foundation Ireland will take helm of Science Foundation Arizona this summer.

PHOENIX -- Science Foundation Arizona (SFA) has named William C. Harris, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Arizona-based nonprofit organization. He will assume his new role this summer.

As leader of SFA, Harris will be responsible for fostering a culture that will build and strengthen medical, scientific and engineering research programs and infrastructure in areas of greatest strategic value to Arizona's competitiveness in the global economy. He will also work to actively engage scientific research, academic and medical institutions representing both the public and private sectors on a worldwide basis.

Harris comes to SFA with remarkable credentials, having served as founding director general of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) for almost 5 years. Harris was largely responsible for SFI's success as a global bio/ICT research model. Information and communication technology (ICT) includes computer science, engineering and mathematics, which are key to modern bio, particularly systems biology and personalized medicine.

Harris' work of turning Ireland into an internationally collaborative partner with multiple biotech, academic-industry research groups and his establishment of a comprehensive grants program with an international review system was integral in Ireland's success for building research investments in strategic areas and developing a knowledge driven economy.

"Arizona will benefit immediately from Dr. Harris' nearly 3 decades of experience in managing funds towards the advancement of science and engineering. His success in Ireland was based on the establishment of a globally competitive, comprehensive grants program, focused principally for bioscience/bioengineering and ICT," said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, president and scientific director of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). "There is no doubt in my mind that under Bill's direction, Science Foundation Arizona (SFA) will keep this same commitment to excellence and will be of resounding benefit to all Arizonans."

"Harris' appointment brings incredible opportunity to the state of Arizona. He will be critical in attracting top-quality researchers, doctors and collaborative partnerships to the state," said Don Budinger, chairman and founding director of the Rodel Foundations of Arizona and founding chair of SFA. "He brings great insight into the importance of innovation coupled with the experience of how to establish a globally competitive, comprehensive R&D model with the goal of growing a more competitive knowledge driven economy for Arizona."

Harris' appointment marks a milestone in the infancy of SFA's development. He will report to a yet-to-be named board of directors.

"Science Foundation Arizona hopes to improve access to quality medical care for all Arizonans," said John Murphy, president and CEO of the Flinn Foundation and founding director of SFA. "At the same time, it hopes to build an economy that will create higher paying jobs, improve our state's educational system and foster recognition of our state in the global community as a place for innovation and excellence. On a trip to Ireland last summer I saw first-hand the results of Harris' work. He brings instant credibility to our aspirations for Arizona."

Prior to joining SFA, Harris served as director general and CEO of Science Foundation Ireland where he was able to establish strong relationships and international collaborations while instituting globally competitive grants programs and securing a solid funding base. Harris also served as the director of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the U.S. National Science Foundation, founding president and executive director of Columbia University's Biosphere 2 Centre (B2C) and as vice-president for research and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, and also led the USC Research Foundation.

Harris has authored more than 50 research papers and is a fellow of the American Association for the advancement of Science. In 2004, he received the Wiley Lifetime Achievement Award from California Polytechnic State University and was recently elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy. Harris earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the College of William and Mary and his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of South Carolina.

"Arizona has the capacity to position itself as a hub of bioscience, industry and scientific advancements that lead to improved healthcare and quality of life throughout the state," said Harris. "I look forward to joining Science Foundation Arizona (SFA) and Arizona's already well established bioscience partners, in distinguishing the state as a nationwide collaborator and international leader in the biosciences and related disciplines essential for a 21st century competitive economy."

Science Foundation Arizona (SFA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created by the Greater Phoenix Leadership, Inc. (GPL), Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC)and the Flagstaff 40 as a result of Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap, developed by the Battelle Memorial Institute with funding from the Flinn Foundation. SFA has goals to (1) build and strengthen medical, scientific and engineering research programs and infrastructure in areas of greatest strategic value to Arizona's competitiveness in the global economy, and (2) actively engage scientific research, academic and medical institutions representing both the public and private sectors on a worldwide basis. SFA will be active in helping Arizona to position itself as a hub of bioscience, industry and scientific advancements that lead to improved healthcare and quality of life throughout the state.