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Natalie Duran
Natalie Duran
01:08

Natalie Duran

UCLA Health

Los Angeles, CA USA

"This is my chance to show people all around the world that women are stronger than people make them out to be."

Career Roadmap

Natalie's work combines: Action Sports, Science, and Learning / Being Challenged

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Day In The Life

Clinical Researcher / Professional Athlete

I am a clinical researcher for UCLA Health, a climber, a fitness model, and competitor on American Ninja Warrior.

My Day to Day

With rock climbing and American Ninja Warrior, I typically train 4-5 days a week with 2 forced rest days. As a researcher, I work on projects dealing with stem cell-based therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. I write publications on my research. I also occasionally do television spots, fitness competitions, and brand campaigns.

Skills & Education

Advice for getting started

Explore new things, get scared, and do things that challenge your comfort zone.

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Neuroscience

    University of California-Riverside

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Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of California, Riverside.

  • 2.

    Works as a medical researcher at UCLA, doing clinical research in gastroenterology and studying inflammatory bowel diseases.

  • 3.

    Whenever school or work got hard, she always found an outlet in two things: vlogging and exercising.

  • 4.

    She’d been rock climbing for three years when she first saw American Ninja Warrior.

  • 5.

    She realized that although she knew a lot of strong women who’d have fun and do well on the show, there weren’t many women actually featured on the show.

  • 6.

    As someone who was already comfortable in front of a camera, she saw an opportunity to blaze a trail for women on the show.

  • 7.

    She’s competed on American Ninja Warrior twice; on her second attempt, she became one of the first women to advance to the finals.

  • 8.

    Her advice for academic and physical training is: always take the time to explore new things, and find yourself a good, strong support base.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    Women can't rock climb, this is a man's sport!

  • How I responded:

    Rock climbing is a male-dominated sport and I've dealt with preconceived notions about my abilities. I purposely challenge those expectations. I don't necessarily want to prove men wrong, I want to prove to women that we are just as strong.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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  • I am a first generation Filipino American and it's always hard when I have to deal with my parents expectations for me.

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