Amanda (Mandy) Shaheen will be replacing Emily Hayhurst as the new TECBio program coordinator. We wish Hayhurst the best of luck in the next stage of her journey! 

Shaheen is a Pittsburgh native who grew up in New Castle. Prior to joining the University of Pittsburgh in 2022, she worked as an educator for over 20 years. During her tenure as a teacher, she specialized in physical science and environmental science. Shaheen earned a B.S. in Geology from Penn State and a M.Ed. in Science Education from Clarion University.  

“The more I work with students, the more I love working with students,” she says. “I love watching my students gain an appreciation for science.”

Outside of her work at TECBio, Shaheen is an enthusiast of the environment and the ocean. When she was just 16 years old, she began working with sharks at the Aqua Zoo, now the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium.  

“My minor is marine science,” she says. “I wanted to work with sharks, and this was way before Shark Week or anything like that was out. Everybody thought I was crazy.” 

Shaheen studied the effects of captivity on sharks’ sixth sense, their ability to detect electromagnetic pulses from living organisms. She later turned her passion for the environment into geology. While at Penn State, she researched paleontology and marine geology.

In her spare time, Shaheen enjoys watching quiz shows and movies with her family. Her weekend hobby is assisting her husband in the kitchen when he’s baking and decorating his frosted creations.  

Team TECBio is excited to welcome Shaheen. Her passion for science and education will be an asset to the program. If you have any questions about the ocean, don’t hesitate to reach out to our resident shark expert!