2026 JOHN TURNBULL AWARD
Dr. David B. Levin has been engaged in the world of academia since 1991 when he joined the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria as an Assistant Professor. During the first 15 years of his academic career at the University of Victoria, David progressed to the rank of Associate Professor and held an NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Biotechnology from 1991-1996. In 2006, David was recruited to come home to Winnipeg where he joined the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He achieved his final promotion to the rank of Professor in 2014. Dr. Levin holds a unique role in the Department of Biosystems Engineering given that his university education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies (University of Waterloo), an MSc in Entomology (University of Guelph) and a PhD in Virology (McGill University); he is the lone non-engineer in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba (and is the logical professor to teach the “Biology for Engineers” course). Dr. Levin’s research approach integrates microbiology, molecular biology, genome sciences and bioprocess engineering. During his first decade at the University of Manitoba, David’s research focus was on the development of new processes for next generation biofuel production with lower input costs. In recent years, his research has transitioned from an emphasis on biofuel production to i) production of renewable biodegradable polymers synthesized by bacteria and ii) microbial degradation and biorecycling of plastics. Professor Levin has an outstanding publication record (over 180 refereed publications), is highly regarded as an expert in the field (78 invited keynote speeches) and has supervised more than 90 research personnel through the continuum from undergraduate student to postdoctoral fellow. Dr. David Levin is a worthy recipient of the John Turnbull Award due to his excellent contributions to waste management during his academic career in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba.
