Dr. David Heisler
Heislerd@duq.edu

Duquesne 2023 – Present
UT Southwestern ’23
Ohio State ’17
Virginia Tech ’10

I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and northern Virginia. I earned my B.S. Biochemistry from Virginia Tech where I studied the social motility of M. xanthus under the guidance of Dr. Wesley Black. After a year coaching high school wrestling, I started my Ph.D. with Dr. Dmitri Kudryashov at the Ohio State University. During this time, I uncovered a novel mechanism employed by toxins that target the actin cytoskeleton. As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Neal Alto at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, I shifted my focus to understanding how cells protect themselves and others against microbial pathogens through the modulation of plasma membrane cholesterol levels. When not in the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, following sports, and exploring the Pittsburgh craft beer scene.