Chinami Michaels
Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix, AZ USA
"The uniqueness and strengths that you have to offer are different than anyone else."
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Chinami's work combines: Science, Art, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Work on your observational drawing skills because if you apply to graduate programs in science or medical illustration, that's what your art portfolio will be assessed on. I also recommend taking challenging science courses in order to meet the requirements to get into these programs. For example, when applying to grad school, I needed to have completed anatomy with dissection. I also needed to take a GRE.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Tufts University
Bachelor's Degree
Studio Art
Tufts University
Graduate Degree
Biomedical Visualization
University of Illinois at Chicago
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
As a teenager, I became very interested in art and drawing.
2.
I met a neuroscientist through a book club who introduced me to the field of science illustration—he needed illustrations for his textbook, which sounded like something I could be interested in.
3.
I decided to go to Tufts University because it had a dual degree program that allowed me to study both biology and studio art.
4.
After earning my bachelor’s degree, I went to graduate school for medical illustration.
5.
I did an internship in science and medical illustration, which really solidified my interest in the field.
6.
I now work as a medical video editor and multimedia specialist at Barrow Neurological Institute, where I edit videos of neurosurgeries and create molecular science illustrations for neuroscientists.
7.
I also co-lead a diversity outreach initiative within my department, which aims to bring more underrepresented college students into the neuroscience publications department.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You want to be an illustrator? Are you sure you don't want to be a fine artist instead and go show in New York City? You want to be a medical illustrator? Are you sure you wouldn't rather become a scientist?
How I responded:
I got pushback from professors in college. My art professors questioned why I didn't want to be a fine artist and my biology professors tried to push me toward becoming a scientist. I was sure that medical illustrating was what I wanted to do but I listened to them a bit and worked as a summer research assistant in the biology lab. It wasn't suited to me and I missed using my art skills. I did a medical illustration internship and liked it a lot better, so I knew I was making the right choice.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I struggled with imposter syndrome in grad school. I didn't fit in with my classmates. They were more competitive than collaborative, which made me question my own work. I needed to separate my identity from my grades in order to make it through.