Faculty Profile
David Kushner
(he/him/his)Professor of Biology (2003)
Contact Information
Rector North Room 1302
717-245-1328
Bio
Prof. Kushner teaches courses in microbiology, virology, and RNA biology. His research combines genetics and cell and molecular biology with genomic and bioinformatic approaches to understand interactions between viruses and their hosts, and also uses evolution-based approaches to understand the relationship between viral RNA sequence, structure, and function. Prof. Kushner also has led the development of curriculum guidelines for undergraduate virology courses, and currently is the co-Chair of the Education and Career Development Committee of the American Society for Virology (ASV) and serves on ASV Council.
Education
- B.S., Haverford College, 1993
- Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1998
2025-2026 Academic Year
Fall 2025
BIOL 326 Microbiology w/Lab
Permission of instructor required.
BCMB 560 Stu/Faculty Collaborative Rsch
Student/Faculty Collaborative Research allows a student to conduct original research in close partnership with faculty collaborator(s). The project should be designed as an investigation yielding novel results that contribute to the area of study. With the faculty collaborator(s), students will develop the project and participate in all aspects fo the reasearch. It is expected that the faculty member will work closely with the student for at least half of the time the student is pursuing the research. The final project must be presented to the faculty collaborator(s) no later than one week prior to the end of the evaluation period. The course will typically earn one half or one full course credit per semester.
Spring 2026
BIOL 326 Microbiology w/Lab
Molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry (structure and function) of bacteria, archaea, and viruses. Includes an introduction to the immune system and mechanisms of medical control of microbes. Molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis are addressed via readings from the recent primary literature. Laboratory exercises include the isolation and characterization of unknown bacteria using traditional and molecular methods, and modern genomic approaches to characterizing host response to infection.
Six hours classroom a week. Prerequisites: One 200-level BIOL course. For Neuroscience majors, prerequisite is NRSC 200.
BIOL 427 Virology
An introduction to the molecular and cellular biology of viruses. Topics of study include the life cycle of viruses in general and their relationships with their hosts, including the processes of attachment to, entry into, genomic replication within, and exit from, cells. Aspects of pathogenesis, disease, the immune response to viruses, and vaccines, also will be studied. Related topics (such as prions, RNA interference, and public health issues) may be discussed. Regular reading and discussion of primary literature will complement the lectures.
Three hours classroom a week. Prerequisite: 213, 216, 313, 316, 318, 326 or 327.