Dr. Linda Chelico BSA, PhD

Dr. Linda Chelico was appointed as Vice Dean Research, Biomedical in March 2026. Dr. Chelico earned her PhD in Applied Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2004, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Southern California in biochemistry. She joined the University of Saskatchewan faculty in 2009 and was promoted to Professor in 2019.

Dr. Chelico is internationally recognized for her expertise on the APOBEC family of cytosine deaminases, beginning with the first biochemical characterization of APOBEC3G—work published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Her research has since provided foundational insights into how APOBEC3 enzymes restrict HIV-1 replication, shape viral evolution, and contribute to somatic mutagenesis in cancer. She has authored numerous high‑impact publications across Nature Communications, Nucleic Acids Research, Cancer Research, and Journal of Virology, among others and is a TEDxUniversityofSaskatchewan speaker.

Her leadership in the field includes service on CIHR review panels, editorial board member for multiple scientific journals, and leadership roles in national and international conferences, including the Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research and Gordon Research Conferences.

Dr. Chelico has been recognized for research excellence, mentorship, and supervision. Her program has been continuously funded by CIHR, NSERC, CFI, and other agencies, supporting innovative work on APOBEC enzymes in viral restriction and cancer biology.