About
Research scientist with a Ph.D. in Experimental Biology and international laboratory experience.
Ph.D. in Experimental Biology | Medical Mycology | Molecular Microbiology
Viridiana Alejandre is a research scientist whose work connects fungal biology, molecular microbiology, and experimental biology. She earned her Ph.D. in Experimental Biology at Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, where her research examined mechanisms that regulate Mucorales growth, metabolism, and virulence.
Her research has explored cAMP/PKA and heterotrimeric G-protein signaling, mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, iron homeostasis, rhizoferrin production, and host-associated signals. She has completed research appointments at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Universidad de Murcia, bringing experience across scientific teams in Mexico, the United States, and Spain.
Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, she is open to opportunities in research, microbiology, laboratory science, quality control, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical science.
Technical Expertise
Hands-on methods across fungal genetics, microbiology, infection models, and biochemical analysis.
Molecular and Fungal Genetics
PCR, RT-qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, gene-expression analysis, protein purification, and generation and characterization of fungal mutant and overexpression strains.
Microbiology and Mycology
Mucorales culture and manipulation, including Mucor lusitanicus and Rhizopus spp.; growth, germination, morphology, and virulence phenotyping.
Host-Pathogen Models
Caenorhabditis elegans, Galleria mellonella, and Mus musculus infection models; host-pathogen interaction and survival assays.
Biochemical and Metabolic Analysis
Mitochondrial respiratory activity, oxidative metabolism, reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radical measurements, rhizoferrin production, iron homeostasis, and spectrophotometric assays.
Laboratory and Analytical Training
Public-health laboratory sample preparation and nucleic acid extraction for RT-PCR and RT-qPCR; mass spectrometry training and biological sample analysis.
Research at a Glance
Selected measures from Viridiana's documented research record.
Peer-reviewed publications
Countries with research experience
Teaching & Recognition
Academic contributions alongside research and laboratory work.
Teaching & Mentoring
- Adjunct instructor in Specialized Software for Chemical-Biological Sciences II and Environmental Chemistry and Sustainability (2024-2025).
- Instructor for the Biology Induction Course for incoming biotechnology students (2023).
- Co-supervised an undergraduate thesis in Químico Farmacobiología (2024).
Awards & Service
- Dr. Ignacio Chávez Medal (2025); recognition for highest academic average in the Ph.D. program (2024).
- Honorable Mention for the Ph.D. in Experimental Biology (2024) and M.Sc. in Biological Sciences (2020).
- Student application evaluator for Verano Nicolaita de Investigación (2023, 2024); science outreach participant at Tianguis de la Ciencia (2022).