Research News

For Mikayla Ybarra, learning has always been both analytical and creative. Long before she entered the lab, she was sketching landscapes, watching Bob Ross and learning to see the world through detail and composition. Today, as a second‑year PhD student in pathology at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Cleveland Clinic, that same artistic mindset shapes how she approaches science. She sees Cleveland Clinic as an unparalleled place to learn and work because it isn’t simply where she trains; it’s where her identities as scientist, artist and educator come together.  

Education built on strong foundations 

Growing up on a farm, Ybarra learned biology through daily life while caring for animals, learning plant genetics and observing natural systems in motion. That curiosity deepened in adolescence when she received a microscope and discovered a new world—a moment that transformed her interest into a calling. 

Her path to Cleveland Clinic began through CWRU’s Biomedical Sciences Training Program (BSTP), an umbrella program designed to help students discover where they thrive through academic freedom and flexibility. Now preparing for her qualifying exam, Ybarra describes graduate education at Cleveland Clinic as demanding but deeply supportive. The program encourages accomplishments past passing exams, supporting confidence, critical thinking and intellectual independence. 

Mentorship that encourages creativity 

Ybarra’s experience in the lab of Chao Ma, PhD, exemplifies how mentorship elevates education. She chose her mentor based on research interests and values, including curiosity, balance and growth. 

Within her first year, she secured competitive grant funding, published a review paper as first author and delivered a presentation at a national conference. She also contributed original artwork for a journal cover, an exceptionally rare opportunity that allowed her artistic skills to intersect directly with her scientific training. 

“That moment meant a lot to me,” says Ybarra. “It showed that creativity can strengthen science.” 

A creative environment for translational science 

Ybarra’s research focuses on organ‑on‑a‑chip technology, a quickly advancing field that uses human‑based models to more accurately study disease and therapy response. This work sits at the intersection of pathology, immunology and bioengineering, a space that Cleveland Clinic is positioned to support through its collaborative programs. Students work alongside clinicians and scientists, learning how discoveries move from bench to bedside. That collaborative structure mirrors Ybarra’s artistic sensibility: assembling many perspectives into a coherent whole. 

“Science is creative problem‑solving,” she explains. “Sometimes experiments fail, just like paintings don't always turn out the way you expect. You learn how to adapt rather than discard the work.” 

Cleveland Clinic’s multidisciplinary environment allows adaptability to flourish, giving trainees the tools and trust to pursue bold ideas.  

“This is a place where you’re allowed to be fully yourself,” Ybarra says. “Where learning is intentional, and creativity is a strength.” 

Art outside the lab 

Ybarra’s creativity remains a steady and personal part of her life. She favors oils and acrylics to paint landscapes that reflect memories from her upbringing in North Carolina, like wide farmland horizons, mountain ranges and foothills.  

Ybarra intentionally keeps art noncompetitive, carving out time for restoration, reflection and creativity without pressure. She’s found physical space for these practices at the Cleveland Museum of Art, just a few minutes from CWRU and Cleveland Clinic. With its vast collections, quiet spaces and freedom to wander, Ybarra enjoys visiting a world-class museum that supports her idea of art as an iterative process, like her scientific training.