Shaakirah completed her BSc in Human Physiology at the University of Pretoria in 2012. She then went on to complete her postgraduate studies of a BSc Honours in 2013, specialising in bone cellular functioning; thereafter she achieved a Master’s degree in Human Physiology in 2017. During this time, she worked full-time in the Department of Physiology at the University of Pretoria as a technical assistant. In 2018, Shaakirah joined the Steve Biko Academic Hospital for the IVF internship training programme.
Shaakirah has collaborated in research outputs with co-authorship of published articles. She is a member of the Golden Key Honour society as well as the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG).