Professor Osvaldo Gutierrez is featured in a new Research Powers Progress video, which highlights his research and its importance to UCLA’s mission. His lab is working on new and sustainable methods of making chemical compounds, including medicines, which may help to yield better health outcomes nationally and globally.
The Research Powers Progress campaign seeks to highlight the important research being conducted at UCLA, which is fueling breakthroughs that shape a brighter future. From developing new treatments that save lives, to advancing technologies that transform daily living, to exploring the mysteries of the universe, our investigators are driving discoveries that benefit people everywhere.
Each study carries the potential to improve health, strengthen communities, and expand knowledge in ways that touch us all. With sustained support, UCLA researchers continue to turn bold ideas into real-world impact—creating hope, opportunity, and progress for generations to come.
Gutierrez, an alumnus of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, rejoined the department as a faculty member on January 1, 2025. Prior to joining the UCLA faculty, he was a Professor at Texas A&M University. Gutierrez’s research focuses on mechanistically guided approaches to designing and developing new catalytic and environmentally friendly chemical transformations that can reduce the cost of producing medicines.
In addition to this research, Gutierrez has been a strong advocate for fostering more welcoming and inclusive environments in STEM—a commitment he plans to continue at UCLA. As part of that mission, Gutierrez also serves as the inaugural Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) Senior Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Faculty Director for UCLA.
Earlier this year, Gutierrez was awarded the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), by President Biden. The award is highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.
Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
