Shannon O’Brien

Shannon works with our full-time staff and early-career professionals to organize the field season, coordinate citizen science programs, and provide assistance in the field and lab. She is working hard to make sure everyone who joins Schoodic Institute’s team of scientists, educators, and science communicators feels welcomed and prepared to tackle a variety of projects.

Shannon’s favorite part of working at Schoodic Institute is the iconic landscape surrounding campus and the fabulous team of people around her. Initially joining the Institute as an Ecology Technician (a position she held for two seasons), Shannon knows well the hard work and dedication required to make scientific research possible. Currently in a new position, Shannon is learning how to orchestrate field efforts from a different perspective, and she enjoys the satisfaction of a schedule coming together without a hitch.

Born and raised in the south, Shannon has enjoyed acclimating to the Northeast’s terrain, species, and seasonality. For now, she has settled in Maine and enjoys exploring the outdoors, visiting small towns, and relaxing in the evenings while watching hockey with her two cats.

Shannon attended the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. She first visited Schoodic Institute with UMO in 2019 for a class in field ecology.