Shannon was born and raised in a small suburb outside of Chicago, Illinois. She graduated in 2017 with a B.S. in Honors Marine Biology from the University of Oregon. As an undergraduate, Shannon discovered her passion for marine invertebrates. She completed a thesis on the radiole regeneration and branchial crown structure of the feather duster worm. To gain more experience, she studied abroad in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean. After graduation, Shannon returned to Bonaire as an intern and assisted with a long-term project on the island’s benthos. As the OWUSS National Park Service diving intern, Shannon traveled to various national parks across the United States and assisted with ongoing research projects.
Shannon has always been passionate about the ocean. As a member of the Reef Ecology Lab at KAUST, she looks forward to learning new techniques and continuing her work with the marine invertebrates of the Red Sea.
