Shelby is a PhD candidate in Iberian and Latin American linguistics in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. She is a speech researcher interested in the role of input variability as a catalyst for learning. Her research assesses speech sound perception and production development in second language learners using variability-based training paradigms. Her work sits at the intersection of linguistics and psychology, as she values contextualizing learning patterns and interventional approaches alongside learners' cognitive idiosyncrasies.
She also regularly extends her research to applied contexts, drawing on user experience data to refine and optimize training tools. Shelby contributes to large-scale, multi-site projects and initiatives, including the Pronunciation Research Accelerator, where she provides consulting on experimental design, implementation and data workflows. She has extensive experience managing complex, longitudinal projects from end to end, collaborating across research teams and building scalable tools. She prioritizes open-access, transparent research practices in the interest of improving research quality and making findings more accessible to stakeholders.
Looking ahead, Shelby is committed to long-term engagement with the research community and to advancing evidence-based practices. She remains open to both research-intensive academic positions and industry roles where she can engage in research dissemination and apply her skills in analytical thinking and project management.