David Alexander, PhD

Dr. David Alexander is an assistant professor with the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and a scientist at Manitoba's Cadham Provincial Laboratory.

He was introduced to the wonderful world of microbiology as an undergraduate student at the University of Western Ontario.

As a graduate student at McGill University, he studied bacterial genetics and investigated how environmental stimuli, such as heavy metals, regulate gene expression.

Dr. Alexander's postdoctoral research focused on mycobacterial pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium. His interest in tuberculosis led to a position with the Public Health Ontario Laboratories.

At Public Health Ontario, Dr. Alexander started using molecular epidemiology approaches, including DNA sequencing, to monitor the transmission and evolution of bacterial and viral pathogens. 

In 2011, Dr. Alexander moved to the prairies. As a director at the Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory, his work involved diagnostic testing for sexually transmitted infections. 

Since 2016, Dr. Alexander has worked at Cadham Provincial Laboratory, where he assists the clinical microbiology section with the evaluation and implementation of new diagnostic tests. Dr. Alexander also supports provincial surveillance of foodborne illnesses and sexually transmitted diseases.

Education

• Postdoctoral Scholar, McGill University Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, Montréal, Québec (2003–2006)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, Department of Molecular Genetics, Toronto, Ontario (2001-2003)
• PhD, McGill University, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Montréal, Québec (1994 – 2001)
• BSc, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario (1990-1994)