Shelby Keye

Shelby Keye serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign within the College of Applied Health Sciences. Her research bridges nutritional science, physical activity metrics, and neurocognitive development with emphasis on pediatric populations across diverse socioeconomic contexts.

Her primary research domains include: cognitive function trajectories in early childhood linked to dietary patterns; carotenoid biomarkers as indicators of nutritional status; physical activity and BMI disparities in longitudinal cohorts; and neurophysiological assessment techniques like the Lateralized Readiness Potential. Methodologically, she integrates large-scale birth cohort studies, dietary analysis, and electrophysiological measurements to examine lifestyle impacts on developmental outcomes.

Analysis of her 2025 publications reveals a cohesive focus on diet-cognition relationships across developmental stages, utilizing interdisciplinary approaches from nutritional biochemistry to cognitive neuroscience. Key trends include validation of skin carotenoids as non-invasive biomarkers, examination of socioeconomic modifiers in health outcomes, and translation of dietary patterns like MIND into cognitive performance metrics—particularly in school-aged children and toddlers.