Shyamala is a writer, artist and scholar, who has been working as an independent researcher. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, and an MA in English Literature and Cultural Studies from McMaster University, Canada. Her research is primarily in the field of popular culture, with a focus on digital and transmedia narratives, critical race studies and feminist/queer studies. In the creative field, she has performed in, directed, and written multiple plays, and publishes regularly on Fanhackers, a site dedicated to bridging the gap between academic publications in the field of fan studies and the fans themselves.