Sheryl Denker

Bio

Sheryl P. Denker, PhD is recognized as a connector and leader with a unique scientific background covering academic, editorial, and industry roles. With 15+ years of expertise in fostering collaborations to advance biomedical sciences, she thrives at the nexus of innovation, education, business development, marketing, and advocacy teams. Most recently at the global contract research organization Eurofins, Sheryl drove science and thought leadership communications to advance drug discovery programs and innovative non-animal testing alternatives. She created and managed scientific and advocacy communications with the team at the ground-breaking open-access publisher PLOS, and led the California Life Science Institute’s science education program connecting working scientists with students at Bay Area high schools and community colleges for practical, hands-on experiences. Her research career includes time as Senior Scientist at Xenogen Corp, developer of black box-imaging of bioluminescent genes and cells; at UC San Francisco, on investigations into microglial activation and regulation of fibroblast cell shape and motility; and at UC San Diego, on signaling mechanisms in vesicular transport. Sheryl completed her postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF, her PhD in Biomedical Sciences (Cell Biology and Pharmacology) at UCSD, and her BA in Physiology at UC Berkeley. She is fascinated by the way large language models and artificial intelligence systems are rapidly transforming the practice and communication of science.