‘Social’ Scientist — Isha Shah ’21

Though she’s only been at Albright for a year, biochemistry major Isha Shah ’21 has been a member of SGA, a residence assistant, an admissions ambassador, a lion diplomat and a peer orientation person. Over last summer, she tested her science skills by formulating products during an internship with Fragrance Manufacturing Inc. It’s all part of a drive that began when Shah discovered the sciences at the age of 12.

“The thought of constantly learning and discovering sounded amazing,” remembers Shah. “I can’t wait to do research projects during my higher education because the thrill of discovery is something that I absolutely love.”

And even though she describes her life as an “organized mess” and says her phone calendar has become her best friend, Shah truly values every aspect of her social life. It’s a stark change from her high school experience where she “felt like a number” in her class of about 1,100 students.

“Albright is like a big family rather than a small school,” says Shah. “Everyone knows everyone. I absolutely love that feeling of familiarity and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

After Albright, Shah plans to keep learning and possibly pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in pharmaceutical cosmetic science — with an eye toward researching and developing environmentally friendly alternatives to commonly used cosmetic and household product ingredients.