Life Sciences Illustration student interns virtually in the Caribbean

By Michael C. Butz

The pandemic has forced a lot of change, including in higher education. An example? Due to COVID restrictions, the Center for BioMedical Visualization at St. George’s University in Grenada created a new virtual internship program.

That’s a good thing. What makes it better is that in only the program’s second year, CIA student Caitlin Guttu secured one of the coveted positions as a Biomedical Visualization Intern. She started in January, and the internship ends in late April.

We caught up with the Life Sciences Illustration junior and Mentor, Ohio native to ask about her experience.

This internship sounds really cool. What does it entail? What are you working on? How have you liked it?
This internship is a really cool experience and I have been enjoying it a lot! St. George’s University is a renowned center for international education in Grenada, West Indies. Because of COVID, this internship is remote, but I still feel I am part of the team and community. The team consists of a melting pot of artists from around the world. It is so rewarding to work with unique people who have different perspectives on art and the world. My internship coordinator, Farihah, shares with me what the island culture is like in Grenada, giving me a sense of what it is like to live there since I can’t experience it firsthand.

This internship entails attending weekly meetings and completing projects for the Biology, Ecology, and Conservation Department at SGU. The team is very open to sharing their expertise as Biomedical Illustrators and are planning to teach me software, such as Cinema 4D and Zbrush. I am currently finishing up my final draft of a river continuum concept, which depicts three sections of a river and the invertebrates that live in each section. My work provides faculty with supportive educational materials to help with long-term retention of course material and enhance student learning.

What opportunities has the internship afforded you so far that you might not have otherwise had?
First and foremost, this opportunity has offered me valuable experience outside of the classroom. I have been learning how to work collaboratively with a team and manage projects with clients, as well as learning new techniques and building upon current skills like graphic design and professionalism.

What are the biggest things you’ve learned so far?
Having a strong work ethic is crucial, especially when working as a part of a team and having clients that rely on receiving projects by a certain deadline. Also, having flexibility and being willing to apply changes to projects, even when I think the project is almost complete.

In what ways have your CIA professors and/or classmates helped prepare you for this opportunity?
A big part of this internship is valuing and being receptive to feedback from peers and experts in this field. I feel that the critiques I have had at CIA have really prepared me to appreciate and acknowledge that feedback is important to producing high-quality work.