Pronouns: she/her
Email: natalia@purdue.edu
Office:
Matthews Hall 218
Natalia Rodriguez
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health
Courtesy Appointments
Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Areas of Expertise
- Human-centered design
- Community-based participatory research
- COVID-19 response in homeless populations
- Community Health Workers
- Cervical Cancer screening
HHS Signature Research Area(s)
- Sustainable Organizations and Thriving Communities
Department of Public Health Research Area(s)
- Women’s Health
- Health Disparities
- Community-Engaged Research
- Intervention and Implementation Science
Biography
Dr. Natalia Rodriguez is an Assistant Professor of Public Health and Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, and Associate Member of the Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2019, she started the Health TechQuity Lab, an interdisciplinary research group focused on the design and implementation of rapid diagnostic tests to address health disparities. By meaningfully engaging underserved communities in translational science, her lab employs participatory methodologies to increase adoption of technological innovation, empower community health workforces, and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Education
- BS, Chemical Engineering, MIT, 2009
- BS, Biology, MIT, 2009
- MSE, Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2013
- PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 2016
- MPH, Global Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 2017
Websites
Social Media Accounts
Current Courses
- PUBH 51100 - Foundations of Global Health
- PUBH490/ENGR496/HONR299 - Health, Tech, and Equity
Selected Honors/Awards
- NIH Director's New Innovator Award - 2023
- Excellence in Research Impact, Dept of Public Health - 2023
- Excellence in Community Engagement, Dept of Public Health - 2023
- Horizons Faculty Mentor Impact Award, Purdue University - 2022
- Woman of Distinction, YWCA of Greater Lafayette Salute to Women Award - 2022
- Award for Exceptional Teaching and Instructional Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Purdue University - 2021
- NIH/NCI Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award - 2019
Selected Grants
- Principal Investigator, Community-Based Participatory Design of an HPV Rapid Diagnostic Test for Cervical Cancer Screening. National Cancer Institute (K01 CA241073). Period: 09/24/2019-08/31/2024
- Principal Investigator, NIH - Office of the Director (New Innovator Award DP2MD019356: Addressing Cervical Cancer Disparities Among Women Experiencing Homelessness. Period:09/01/2023 - 08/31/2028
In the News
- Purdue Public Health Researcher Receives NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
- NIH to award over $187 million for exceptionally creative biomedical and behavioral research projects
- Engaging communities to advance healthcare through human-centered design. Purdue Engineering Review. June 17, 2021.
- Purdue Public Health study focuses on COVID-19’s effect on area homeless. Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences News. April 16, 2021.
- 40 ideas: Significantly expand community health workers in central Indiana. Indiana Business Journal. January 12, 2021.