Shay Ladd
BME PhD Student
UVA Engineering School Dean’s Scholar (2022-2023)
Systems and Biomolecular Data Science Trainee (2023-2024)
UVA Engineering Teaching Fellowship Program Recipient (2025)
Shay is a third-year PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering department. She grew up in Blacksburg, VA and graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with a major in Chemical Engineering. She is passionate about teaching and hopes to pursue an academic career path. She is currently co-instructing and designing a new course about Systems Immunology and Engineering with Sepideh.
Shay's research focuses on the role of glycosylation in cancer immunology. Specifically, she is studying the regulatory mechanisms surrounding the abnormal patterns of glycosylation that are frequently observed in cancer, as well as how these patterns influence interactions with the immune system and are affected by hypoxia. Understanding the transcriptional, epigenetic, and environmental factors that influence glycosylation could help to improve the efficacy and targeting of immunotherapies.
Outside of lab, Shay enjoys writing, crafting, baking (especially cookies!) and is always excited to find new things to experience.