As a Research Data Analyst, Micaelan transforms data from Kids First Chicago (K1C) and the greater education space into actionable insights, stewarding facts to inform parents as well as guide policy and program reform.
Before joining the K1C team, Micaelan worked in the biomedical research field. At the University of Pittsburgh, she was a member of the Center for Sleep and Cardiovascular Outcomes Research, where she aided in a variety of clinical studies, including one targeting the impact of patients’ therapy initiation preferences on obstructive sleep apnea treatment adherence, and another that assessed the impact of sleep deprivation on immunoregulation in HIV+ patients. When she moved to Chicago, she worked and studied at Rush University as a member of a movement disorders research group, leading a computational study of halting behavior in a treated mouse model.
After graduating, Micaelan sought a career change where she could focus on building her programming and analytics skills in an education-focused environment, ultimately bringing her to K1C. Micaelan graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a BA in Neuroscience and received a MS in Integrated Biomedical Science from Rush University. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading, board/tabletop games, solving escape rooms, and trying her best in competitive trivia.