Alexander Keynan

Alexander (Alex) Keynan (; 18 February 1921 – 7 May 2012) was an Israeli microbiologist. He was co-founder and the first director of the Israel Institute for Biological Research.

Biography Alexander Kotznok (later Keynan) was born in Kiev, Ukraine to Rachel and Ephraim Kotznok (1883–1963), an industrialist, insurance agent and an active Zionist. In 1930, Keynan immigrated with his family to Mandate Palestine. He studied for a M.Sc and Ph.D. at the Hebrew University, graduating in 1950. His thesis was on the biological and biochemical studies of Clostridium botulinum. He served in the science department of the Haganah. and its first director. Keynan served as the Chief Scientific Director of the Institute and the director of the Institute of bacteriology.

In 1964, Keynan was appointed to the chairman position of the National Council for Research and Development .