When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory was overwhelmed with testing. Vanessa Gutierrez ’16 (molecular microbiology and immunology), ’21 Ph.D. (cellular and molecular biology), then a doctoral student, and her colleagues at the University stepped in. Together, they prepared solutions, rushed supplies and acted as an extra source of support for the state’s front-line testing. “It really emphasized how what we do matters,” Gutierrez said. “We were contributing to society.”
That experience confirmed something Gutierrez had begun to realize in graduate school: science makes its greatest impact when it’s connected to people’s lives. She saw it when her mother lit up after Gutierrez explained the complex process of cell culture. “I told her, ‘Sometimes, when someone has cancer, you can actually use a sample from their body to grow that cancer in a lab and study how it works.’ She immediately understood and thought it was very cool.”
Today, Gutierrez is a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University, studying rare muscle diseases and heart failure — bridging basic biology with clinical applications. “I went from working with viruses, to the immune system, to muscle diseases,” she said. One project she is particularly engaged in explores Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects multiple systems of the body.
Her eyes light up when she talks about her work. “I could sit down and talk science forever,” she said.
That spirit of curiosity, nurtured at the University, was shaped by mentors such as Cyprian Rosetto ’09 Ph.D. (cellular and molecular biology), an alumna who was also an associate professor of microbiology and immunology. “Cyprian made me want to pursue science,” Gutierrez said. “She was extremely patient and supportive, and she pushed me to make connections that shaped my career.”
Rossetto describes mentorship as part of a cycle of giving. “I had fantastic mentors who encouraged hands-on research. My motivation now is to foster that same love of science in junior scientists.”
That ethic has become central to Gutierrez’s own approach. At Duke, she mentors younger researchers, including Ph.D. student Gabriella Torres.
“I once told [Gutierrez| I was a visual learner, and the next meeting she had drawn out the pathway we were studying,” Torres said. “It made me realize I wasn’t a bad scientist, I just needed a different way to learn.”
Science itself is one of the clearest examples of the multiplier effect in action. While some discoveries make headlines, they build on decades of smaller discoveries, each one growing from the last. “Every scientific discovery is a breakthrough, no matter the size,” Gutierrez said.
Her journey is proof that even the tiniest ripples grow into waves of progress, expanding knowledge and shaping healthier, more hopeful futures for all.
Discover how Vanesssa’s journey reflects an overarching effort shaping Nevada’s future — and beyond.