Shen is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, with courtesy appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. His research covers nanophotonics, nanoscale energy transport, nanofabrication, and advanced manufacturing, with applications in thermal management, solar energy, and infrared sensing. He received awards including the NSF CAREER Award and DARPA Young Faculty Award. He holds a Ph.D. from MIT and did postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley. He teaches and leads research on innovative materials and energy systems.