Natalia Bastida Gutierrez
Research Assistant II
Originally from the city of Philadelphia, Natalia Bastida Gutierrez graduated from Drexel University in December 2020 where she earned her BS in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry and minor in Mathematics. She joined RASR Lab in October 2022 as a Research Assistant II to further her interest in medical research and contribute to the understanding of racial disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Natalia previously worked as an Associate Chemist in R&D for Church & Dwight, a leading U.S. producer of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), focusing on the stability testing of all the Orajel and Arm & Hammer oral care products. As a Research Assistant I in Dr. Stephen Fesik’s lab at Vanderbilt University, she worked on cancer drug discovery using fragment-based methods and structure-based design. Natalia plans to apply to the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and obtain her certification as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist.
Natalia likes to spend her time with friends and being outdoors. She’s an avid runner and cyclist, loves to be active year round, and competes in local road races. She recently obtained a qualifying time to run the Boston Marathon in 2024 and will be completing her first triathlon in June 2023.