Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On January 19, 2021, the Board of Directors of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (the "Company") approved the appointment of Judith Murrah, 62, as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company effective immediately and until the earliest of her removal, termination, or resignation from such office.

Ms. Murrah has served as the Company's Chief Information Officer since June 1, 2013 and as the Company's Secretary since December 22, 2017, whereby Ms. Murrah is responsible for both information technology strategy and implementation as well as certain Company operations. As the Company's Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Murrah will continue to hold the titles of Chief Information Officer and Secretary, and Ms. Murrah's responsibilities will expand to additional operations functions including the development of key customer and partner relationships, quality assurance oversight, and operations management.

Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Murrah held leadership positions in the technology industry, including as Senior Director of Information Technology at Motorola Solutions, and as Vice President for roles within global account sales, corporate and marketing communications, and information technology at Symbol Technologies before its acquisition by Motorola Solutions. Ms. Murrah holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She is an author of 14 U.S. patents.

As the Company's Chief Operating Officer, the Company increased Ms. Murrah's salary to an annual rate of $325,000, effective January 23, 2021, from $300,000 per annum. Ms. Murrah is not party to an employment agreement with the Company.

There are no other arrangements or understandings between Ms. Murrah and any other persons pursuant to which Ms. Murrah was appointed as the Company's Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Murrah does not have any family relationship with any of the Company's directors or executive officers or any persons nominated or chosen by the Company to be a director or executive officer. Ms. Murrah does not have any direct or indirect interest in any transaction or proposed transaction required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

On January 20, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Murrah as the Chief Operating Officer. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.





(d) Exhibits



Exhibit No.   Description

  99.1          Press Release dated January 20, 2021










                                   signatureS

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

APPLIED DNA SCIENCES, INC.

Date: January 20, 2021 By: /s/ James A. Hayward

Name:  James A. Hayward
                       Title: Chief Executive Officer

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