Shelby is a central Florida native and an alumna of Louisiana State University (LSU), where she majored in Biological Engineering with a minor in Chemistry. In addition to her degree, Shelby earned a Distinguished Communication Certificate from the LSU Communication Across the Curriculum Program. Now at MIT, she is an NSF fellow studying small molecule modulators of oncogenic transcription factors with Dr. Angela Koehler in the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. Beyond the bench top, Shelby is an active member of the Science Policy Initiative (SPI) graduate student organization, where she can advocate for science, technology, and education. She is most intrigued by the power of careful rhetoric and a kind smile, and aspires to one day attend the MET Gala at the Costume Institute in New York City.