Aliyah Shivel-Garman

About

Hi, I'm Aliyah. I graduated with my biochemistry degree from EKU, where most of my work was in flavor chemistry and gas chromatography olfactometry, and I taught organic chem labs along the way.

I also spent a summer in a bioimaging lab in Louisville, training a model to catch early signs of macular degeneration. That work grew into a published review on explainable AI for glaucoma detection.

My favorite color is orange. I also play bass, try it:

Published Research

Artificial Intelligence Review Journal

Explainable AI for Glaucoma Detection and Classification: A Comprehensive Review

Co-authored during my bioimaging internship at the University of Louisville, reviewing machine learning approaches for detecting and classifying glaucoma from retinal imaging.

Read the paper

Experience

  1. Undergraduate Researcher

    Aug 2025 – May 2026

    Eastern Kentucky University

    • Learning gas chromatography olfactometry techniques in relation to flavor chemistry.
    • Presented the poster “Connecting the Amazing World of Smell to STEM Education” at the SERMACS Conference.

  2. Research Intern, Bioimaging Lab

    May 2025 – Jul 2025

    University of Louisville

    • Built a machine learning system for early detection of age-related macular degeneration using OCT retinal imaging.
    • Co-authored the published review “Explainable AI for Glaucoma Detection and Classification” in the Artificial Intelligence Review Journal.

  3. Organic Chemistry Lab TA

    Jan 2025 – May 2026

    Dept. of Chemistry & Forensic Sciences, EKU

    • Ensure lab safety and proper etiquette are followed.
    • Teach and grade organic chemistry material.

  4. Practicum Researcher

    Aug 2024 – Dec 2024

    Eastern Kentucky University

    • Designed a new organic chemistry lab experiment for solid phase extraction of caffeine, removing carcinogenic DCM.

  5. Pharmacy Technician

    May 2024 – Apr 2026

    Kroger Pharmacy

    • Handle prescription drop-offs, insurance billing, vaccine processing, dispensing, and patient correspondence.

  6. Learning Assistant

    Aug 2023 – Aug 2024

    STEM Center of Excellence, EKU

    • Provided academic support in chemistry, biology, math, and nursing dosage calculations.
    • Led thrice-weekly workshops; nearly all participating nursing students passed their exams.

Education

B.S. Chemistry, Biochemistry concentration

Graduated May 2026

Eastern Kentucky University

Magna Cum Laude, GPA 3.8

Awards

  • Top Analytical Chemistry Student

    Spring 2026

    Recognized by the Dept. of Chemistry & Forensic Science for top performance in analytical and instrumentation chemistry courses.

  • Lexington ACS Travel Grant

    Fall 2025

    Awarded $250 to present a poster at the SERMACS Conference in Orlando, FL.

  • EKU Travel Grant

    Fall 2025

    Awarded $500 to present a poster at the SERMACS Conference in Orlando, FL.

  • Thomas Herndon Scholarship

    Spring 2025

    Nominated by the Chemistry & Forensic Science Department for strong academic standing.

  • Outstanding First Year Student Award

    Fall 2022

    Chosen as an outstanding student of the freshman class by an EKU chemistry professor.

  • Governor's Scholars Program

    Summer 2022

    1 of 6 students at Pulaski County High School selected; completed a summer semester at Bellarmine University.

Academic Honors

  • Dean's List

    Fall 2022, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025

  • President's List

    Spring 2023, Fall 2023

Contact

Whether it's research, teaching, or just chemistry talk, I'm always glad to hear from thoughtful people.