Zanyah Shepherd

Zanyah Shepherd

Biography

Zanyah Shepherd is a rising sophomore majoring in chemistry at Claflin University. Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Temple Hills, MD, she grew up surrounded by family members working in various sectors of the medical field, sparking her early appreciation for healthcare. After participating in a computational bioinformatics internship at Howard University, where she studied protein stability and its role in diseases such as cancer, Zanyah realized her approach to making an impact could extend beyond traditional clinical pathways. This experience inspired her passion for applying chemistry to address complex health challenges.
She further developed this interest as a participant in the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP), where she conducted research titled “A Class of Covalent Probes for Fluorescence-Based Detection of Conformational Changes” in the Johnson Lab under the leadership of Dr. Oleta Johnson, mentored by Cordiana Cozier. Now returning for a second summer, she continues to build on her research experience while strengthening her technical, analytical, and scientific communication skills.
Zanyah aspires to collaborate with scientists across disciplines to develop innovative methods, tools, and treatments aimed at preventing or slowing the progression of disease. She plans to pursue a Ph.D., expand her professional network, and continue engaging in impactful research opportunities. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, exercising, and practicing yoga, maintaining a balance that reflects her adaptability, discipline, and open-minded approach to professional environments.