Alder is working as an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the role of telomere length in human health and disease. Current interest is exploring the mechanisms by which telomere dysfunction causes age-related lung diseases including pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Alder's lab uses a number of approaches to explore that pathogenesis of short-telomere mediated disease including genetics, cell biology, and animal models. These studies will lead to a deeper understanding of how telomere dysfunction contributes to lung disease and potentially inform rational therapies.

He holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from Johns Hopkins University.