Selim Yannier was born in 1978 in Istanbul, Türkiye. He graduated from  Galatasaray Lisesi (Galatasaray Lyceum / Lycée de Galatasaray) in Istanbul (1997) and then received his B.S. degree in Physics with honors from Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi (Middle East Technical University), Ankara, Turkiye in Fall 2001. He then began his M.S. studies at the Mechatronics Engineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkiye in Spring 2001 and completed in Spring 2002. He is also completed a Ph.D. in the same institution in Spring 2008.

He worked as a part time Technical Supporter and Software Developer in a computer company from 1993 to 1997. Then Dr. Yannier worked as a part time Software Consultant in Scala Business Solutions between 1998 and 2000. Since January 2001 he is working as a Research and Teaching Assistant in Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkiye. He published several articles both in Turkish and English. His research interests are motion control, mobile robotics and control for nanotechnologies

Dr. Yannier is a member of METU Subaqua Society, Galatasaray Sports Club and is the founder member of Sabanci University Subaqua Sports Club.