Aleeza Gerstein

Aleeza Gerstein is an Assistant Professor in Microbiology and Associate Professor in Statistics at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Science. She leads the MicroStats Lab, which applies evolutionary principles and statistical methods to study fungal pathogens, focusing on drug resistance and chronic infections. Her research integrates computational and experimental approaches, and she co-leads the NSERC CREATE 'Evolution of Fungal Pathogenesis' program.

Her work bridges microbiology and statistics, developing novel methods for analyzing microbial evolution and drug responses. She holds a CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar fellowship and has secured grants including a Research Manitoba Operating Grant. Her teaching spans introductory statistics, R programming, and experimental evolution.

Key research areas include fungal pathogen evolution, microbial genomics, and the interplay between genetic diversity and drug resistance. Her lab collaborates across disciplines, with projects ranging from Candida albicans to Cryptococcus neoformans, emphasizing translational outcomes.

• Awards: CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, NSERC CREATE Grant, Research Manitoba Operating Grant
• Grants: NIH, NSERC, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Dr. Gerstein advises numerous graduate and undergraduate students, fostering a collaborative environment. Her lab is part of the Canadian Fungal Research Network and the EvoFunPath training program, emphasizing pan-Canadian collaboration in fungal pathogenesis research.