Natasha Dias, PhD

Dr. Natasha Dias is an Associate Professor of Biology in the Department of Biology, Earth, and Environmental Science at Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion campus.

Dr. Dias is originally from India where she earned her BS degree in Microbiology and MS degree in Biotechnology. She came to the US in 2009 to pursue her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Endocrinology from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. At Clarion/PennWest University since 2015, she has predominantly taught biology majors the courses of Genetics, Cell Biology, Cell Physiology, Endocrinology and Basic Microbiology for the Nursing program.

She has an active undergraduate research lab with projects spanning across both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Her labs cell culture projects involve studying and understanding the cell and molecular signaling pathways involved in maintaining the metabolism of bone, brain and kidney cells in diseased individuals. The bacterial projects studied in her lab include identifying the pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes in the oral and gut flora of animals as well as analyzing microbes that could lead to nosocomial infections.

In addition to her academic work, she advises the student clubs of Clarion International (Students) Association, Beta Beta Beta (National Biology Honorary) and the Animal Care Club. Through these clubs, she organizes and hosts many informative and engaging cultural and scientific events on campus.