Her Story
About Michelle
I'm currently in my first year of my master's program at San Diego State University, which feels like a full circle moment since I originally grew up in San Diego. My undergrad degree is in biology and anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder, where I studied evolutionary and ecological biology. I changed my major three times but still managed to graduate in four years, which is awesome. After finishing undergrad, I took a little break because I honestly thought I was done with school. I did an internship at the Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado, which is a conservation organization, and I worked very intimately with their invertebrate team. It was a bit of a fear factor moment since I was very scared of bugs, but it really cured that for me and bloomed my interest in them even more. Then last January, I decided that I wasn't done learning, so I applied to grad school. I run two businesses: Shell Atelier, where I upcycle old quilts that I thrift and make them into jackets and clothing, and I'm currently formulating my own cosmetic company through microalgae that I culture in the lab. I make a hyaluronic acid, a face moisturizer, and a lip balm currently. My typical day involves waking up, making my coffee first thing, and then heading to lab around 9am. Usually between classes and meetings and managing all my lab productivity, I'm catching up with friends when I have free time, though I don't really have too much time for my social life at the moment. I'm always moving and moving, and I like to stay busy.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I absolutely attribute my success to my family, my support system. It can be rough, just non-stop going, and so having that support system, and my cat, of course, is just so incredible to come home to, and it really does make a difference. I feel like there is always going to be someone that's proud of me. That would definitely be what I attribute most of my success to. I wouldn't be able to do it without them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think you're never too young, and it's never too late to start something. People start new careers at different ages, and you really are never running out of time. You always have the time to do it. So, just as long as you're motivated and determined, then you can do anything.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think imposter syndrome is definitely a real thing, and sometimes it feels hard to feel like you belong in this space, especially in STEM, where it's very much male-dominated. I think the biggest advice I could give is to don't give up. Don't let people make you feel small, or make you feel like you don't know anything, because you do know things. As long as you keep going and stay on your right track and keep following what your goals are, then no one can say anything. It's really just a mind thing, I think. Don't let people make you feel small.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think definitely academically, sometimes it can feel hard or feel very overwhelming when there's so many different things happening all at once. One way I've really overcome that is taking one day at a time, or even one hour at a time, and it really isn't that serious. Everything can wait a little bit, and my well-being is the number one priority, and so I really try and put my mental and physical needs before all of these other stressful things. With my businesses, it's been really challenging in the sense of finding time to dedicate towards them, because grad school life is a busy life with a lot of papers.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think in work, I really appreciate professionalism and communication, and that's something that's followed me throughout not only my academic career, but also my work life as well. And even in my personal life, communication is the number one thing. It just makes everyone's lives so much easier.
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