Dr. Salinas’ research focuses on neuroimmune responses in the olfactory-central nervous system axis. She is currently funded by NIA and NIGMS. Along with the Biology Department Chair, she has led the creation of a DEI Biology Committee. Dr. Salinas is the lead organizer of the Biology Junior Faculty Grant Writing Boot Camp and the Biology Faculty Lightning Talks. She has served on the College of Arts and Sciences’ Mid-Probation Promotion & Tenure Committee and chaired the committee last year. Her engagement with the College committee contributes to her deep understanding of the committee’s internal discussions that take place when evaluating early-career faculty members’ dossiers. Dr. Salinas has completed the NIH U01 Faculty Development Mentoring Workshop and has successfully mentored several URM faculty members. Dr. Salinas constantly promotes and advocates for URM and female faculty in STEM. Dr. Salinas is a member of Committee of the Status of Women for the American Association of Immunology (AAI) and of the AAI new faculty mentoring program.

She is the co-organizer of #BlackInImmuno week and has led organization of both DEI panels and Gender Equity panels, and she is part of the Cientifico Latino program.