Arlee Shelby

My story

I attend the University of Colorado, Boulder pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physics. I am very passionate about physics. I love math and connecting it with theory and real work applications. I love learning about how and why the world works the way it does. It is truly fascinating and inspiring to learn about processes that we can’t always see or feel but are intrinsic to the physical world. I am currently working in two research groups, one in high-energy physics researching a new method for investigating rare light meson decays with the CMS collaboration at CERN. The other is in nuclear theory investigating two-body decays with machine learning and neural networks. In both I have been able to learn and develop computational skills, which has been at times challenging, but in the end extremely rewarding. I love solving problems that take time, careful thought, and consideration to find the answer. I will be graduating in the spring of 2023 and the TEAM-UP Together scholarship has alleviated much of my financial stress with finishing my degree. I am also currently applying to graduate school, and the application fees can be very expensive. This scholarship will allow me to dream big and apply to all the schools I want to without financial constraints. Additionally, this scholarship has provided me with the mental and emotional support that I have lacked as an African-American woman in physics. This scholarship has shown me that I am a part of a larger community that acknowledges and supports who I am and what I am trying to achieve -- a community that invests in me and my future. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the honor of this award. My thanks, truly, cannot be overstated.