Shimada is the Theodore Ahrens Professor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, with courtesy appointments in Biomedical Engineering and the Robotics Institute. His research focuses on computer modeling and simulation for product design, analysis, and manufacturing. He specializes in geometric computing, mesh generation, CAD-CAE integration, and physically-based modeling. His "Bubble Mesh" method is widely used in industries like automotive and computer graphics. Current projects include anisotropic meshing, adaptive remeshing, and feature-based design. He aims to enhance design efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing cost reduction. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT and previously worked on precision engineering at the University of Tokyo.