Shannon Hackett is an Associate Curator of Birds at the Field Museum’s Negaunee Integrative Research Center. She studies the systematics and evolution of birds, using DNA sequences, morphology, and behavior to reconstruct population histories and species relationships within the tree of life. Raised in a small town in British Columbia, Canada, Shannon's curiosity about the natural world led her to pursue a career in evolutionary biology. After completing her Bachelor's degree in Science at the University of Victoria, and both her Master's and Ph.D. at Louisiana State University, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Her work focuses on extensive genomic studies to uncover evolutionary relationships among avian groups, and she collaborates with various institutions on projects like the Emerging Pathogens Project, which investigates diseases affecting wildlife and humans. Shannon is passionate about mentoring young people about nontraditional careers in science, particularly women in the field. Her research aims to provide new insights into avian evolution while also addressing critical issues related to biodiversity and conservation.