Shaylah joined the IVR in July 2026 after attaining a BS in Biochemistry at The University of Northern Iowa and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After interning in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics at The University of Iowa, Shaylah decided to apply to graduate school. At UNMC she studied Alzheimer's disease and its affects on the visual system. Within the IVR Shayla will be focused on differentiating and reprogramming iPSC lines for modeling retinal diseases and applying electrophysiological techniques to test gene and cell replacement therapies. Outside of lab she enjoys coffee shops, learning new board games, and watching and playing sports in addition to spending time with her family and friends.