About me

MSc Ylenia Vimercati
Welcome and dive deep into my creative artistic side, the outcome of what I perceive as the common ground between science and illustration.
Since childhood, my profound passion for nature and its boundless beauty has driven me to sketch animals and landscapes. During high school, I had the privilege of attending an art academy in Italy, where my creativity flourished, and my skills were honed. Subsequently, my career in the biological and natural sciences provided me with invaluable insights into the intricate mechanisms, anatomy, and behaviors of our living planet. This deepened my enthusiasm for naturalistic drawings, reinforcing the profound connection between nature, science, and art.
​Over the years, I've come to understand the symbiotic relationship between these disciplines. It became clear to me that drawing nature serves as a conduit for merging my greatest passions: science, art, and exploration.
​In 2024, I furthered my education by completing a Master's in Digital Scientific Illustration at TRAZOS School, and the online course Ilustra Infografia by Illustraciencia accademy.
I employ a diverse array of tools to bring my artwork to life. In the digital realm, I'm proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. Additionally, I utilize traditional mediums such as graphite, charcoal, soft pastels, watercolor pencils, watercolors, gel pens, fineliners, and pens.
Education
2024
Escuela Trazos, Madrid
MS IN DIGITAL SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION
Creation of scientifically accurate illustrations across disciplines such as zoology, botany, microbiology, geology, human anatomy, and archaeology, culminating in the comprehensive design, layout, and publication of a digital portfolio.
2017
University of Milan
MSC IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Dissertation title: A comparative study of whistle characteristics between Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).
2013
University of Milan
BSC IN NATURAL SCIENCES
With honors
Dissertation title: Hypothetical theropod coprolites from the Late Maastrichtian Hell Creek Formation of North America: analysis, paleobiological significance and interpretation on the identity of the animal source.
Awards
FINALIST with four works in the FIIN'24 - Vila Real Biodiversity Drawing Contest exhibition. This exhibition is featured in the Catalog of the Exhibition of Scientific and Nature Drawing.
From top left clockwise: 'Superb Starling', 'Iridescence', 'Ranitomeya imitator', and 'Camponotus ligniperda' – 08/2024

FIRST PRIZE in the 2024 FIIN Festival Internacional de Imagem de Natureza Biodiversity Drawing Competition in the category of SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION.
'Camponotus ligniperda' – 10/2024
FIRST PRIZE in the VI Scientific Illustration Contest of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Málaga in collaboration with the Malaga Academy of Sciences.
'Coprinus comatus' – 06/2024
FINALIST in the 'Scientific' Category of the 11th International Award on Scientific and Nature Illustration by ILLUSTRACIENCIA.
'River Crossing in Borneo' – 04/2024
Latest collaborations and publications
2024
University of Colorado, Boulder
EBIO
FREELANCE SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATOR
Contributed digital figures to the scientific paper focused on extreme environments as part of the research of the Quandt Mycology Lab: de Mesquita, C. P. B., Vimercati, L., Wu, D., Childress, M. K., Danz, A., Grupe, A. C., ... & Quandt, C. A. (2024). Fungal diversity and function in metagenomes sequenced from extreme environments. Fungal Ecology, 72, 101383. Link to publication.
2024
New Solutions
CO-AUTHOR
Using Evidence-based Scientific Research to Influence Dietary Behavioral Change: Taking a Look in the Mirror. Bueno de Mesquita CP, Vimercati Molano Y, Vimercati L, de Mesquita PJB.. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/10482911241235380
2022
FEMS Microbiology Ecology
CO-AUTHOR
Dynamic trophic shifts in bacterial and eukaryotic communities during the first 30 years of microbial succession following retreat of an Antarctic glacier.
Vimercati, L., Bueno de Mesquita, C. P., Johnson, B. W., Mineart, D., DeForce, E., Vimercati Molano, Y., ... & Schmidt, S. K. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 98(12), fiac122.