Natasa Djordjevic, a biochemistry undergraduate from Illinois Tech, has charted a clear path toward a career in science, influenced by her STEM-oriented upbringing. Her academic journey began with an exploration of various scientific fields, ultimately leading her to biochemistry. At Illinois Tech, Djordjevic engaged deeply in research, which she credits for shaping her career direction.
"If I didn’t do research, I would have never been able to figure out my career," Djordjevic states. Her research experience began in the lab of Associate Professor Oscar Juarez, where she worked on antibiotics targeting enzymes in disease-causing bacteria. She also explored biomedical engineering under Assistant Professor Marcella Vaicik and completed internships at the University of Michigan focusing on antibody labs and RNA therapeutics.
These experiences solidified her interest in drug discovery within the biotech sector. "The plan is to go into early-stage drug discovery but focus on the biological side," she explains. Djordjevic aspires to work as a senior researcher at companies like AbbVie or in Boston's biotech space.
Her leadership roles include serving on Illinois Tech’s Camras Scholars program executive board and being named a Duchossois Leadership Scholar. "Being the president and vice president of scholarship development for the organization has really helped me finetune my leadership skills," she says.
Djordjevic's commitment extends beyond academics; she participated in volunteer activities through the Duchossois program, including a turtle conservation trip to Zanzibar Island. "It was a cool experience because we were super immersed in the culture," she recalls.
As Djordjevic embarks on her Ph.D. studies in Medicinal Chemistry at Michigan, she is eager to contribute to life-saving discoveries. "A discovery I make can go on to help hundreds of thousands of people," she remarks about her future aspirations.