Shantal holds B.Sc. (Physiology and Medical Microbiology), B.Sc. Honours (Physiology) and Ph.D. (Medical Biosciences) degrees from the University of the Western Cape. She joined the Programme on Mycotoxins and Experimental Carcinogenesis (PROMEC) unit of the South African Medical Research Council in 2006, as a research intern under the mentorship of Prof. Wentzel Gelderblom. Here she was involved in research on the effects of long-term exposure to Camellia sinensis (green and black teas) as well as herbal infusions such as Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), Cyclopia spp. (honeybush) and Sutherlandia spp. (cancer bush). In 2007, she continued her research in the unit as a postdoctoral fellow, investigating the effects of rooibos on the antioxidant status during in utero nicotine exposure of the rat lung. In 2008, she joined the Department of Medical Biosciences as a lecturer for the Human Biology (pharmacy and physiotherapy) service courses of the department and later also, as a module coordinator of Human Biology for occupational therapy and physiotherapy. She was appointed as a lecturer in the Division of Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University in 2010. Her research interests range from fetal programming and the effects of maternal nicotine exposure on offspring, to antioxidants, rooibos and cardiovascular disease risk. In addition to her research and teaching interests, she is also has a keen interest in tobacco control advocacy, hiking and motorsports.