Larah Gutierrez-Camano ’26 Blends Biochemistry and English in Close Reading of a Rare Birthing Girdle

When her thesis is complete, she and Solberg will consider submitting it to a medieval women studies journal. "My honors will also be an exploration of what a scientific and literary paper could look like and what it means to examine proteins in tandem with prayers," Gutierrez-Camano said.

Gutierrez-Camano, who grew up in New Jersey, to Cuban-born parents, arrived at Bowdoin intent on following a pre-med course of study. She became interested in obstetrics after a summer internship in NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's labor and delivery ward.

"I thought I'd be on the sidelines, stocking shelves and helping with paperwork, but no-I was in there. I was holding legs, cheering patients on, and helping them push for hours. I loved it," she said. "I loved the anger, the frustration, and also the grotesque. It was so cool to get into that space and into all of that."

But she couldn't neglect her attachment to books and writing. After taking a first-year seminar with now-retired Professor of English David Collings on English Romantic poetry, she decided to major in English as well.

"Because I had such a wonderful experience with the English department, I wanted to end my time at Bowdoin with the English department," she said. "Science will always be part of my life; it is the toolbox that allows me to deepen my humanistic inquiries. English, however, has shaped my understanding of care and community health, how I approach medicine, and how I think about the role of academic knowledge in community interaction."

Read about other student researchers in this series: Oliver Clachko '26,Mingi Kang '26, Alexa Comess '26,Kaya Patel '26, Will Tran '26, Asher Savel '26, and Dylan Berr '26.