Aaron Ortiz is a biomedical researcher with a passion for investigating the intersection of infectious diseases and cancer biology. His academic path—from earning his A.S. at Santa Fe Community College to completing both his B.S. and M.S. in Biology at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology—has been shaped by a deep curiosity about how tumor heterogeneity, metastasis, and secondary infections contribute to poor prognoses in cancer patients.
Ortiz’s diverse research experiences reflect his dedication to translational science. He has studied epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in prostate cancer, conducted chromosomal analysis of meiotic recombination in zebrafish, and investigated the metastatic role of ZBTB18 in osteosarcoma and breast cancer during a summer in the Pediatric Oncology Education Program at St. Jude. For his master’s thesis, he isolated and characterized bacteriophages for potential use in treating multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections—work that embodies his interest in real-world, patient-focused solutions.
Ortiz was drawn to the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at St. Jude for its unparalleled research infrastructure, mentorship, and commitment to addressing catastrophic pediatric diseases. He is excited to continue pursuing high-impact science in a collaborative environment, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients and families around the world.
Hometown: Pecos, NM
Education:
2025 - MS, Biology – New Mexico Insitute of Mining and Technology
2024 - BS, Biology – New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
2020 - AS, Biological Sciences – Santa Fe Community College
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2024 - David K. Shortess Award – New Mexico Insitute of Mining and Technology