Chia Shen facts for kids

Chia Shen is a Chinese-American computer scientist. She studies how people and computers work together, which is called human–computer interaction. She also looks at how we learn using pictures and videos (visual learning), and how computers can help groups of people learn together.

Currently, she works as a program director at the National Science Foundation. In this role, she helps guide projects related to cyberlearning (learning with technology) and STEM education. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Her Education

Chia Shen loved learning about computers. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), in computer science from Stony Brook University in 1983.

She continued her studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There, she earned her Master of Science (M.S.) degree in 1986. Later, in 1992, she completed her Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in computer science from the same university.

Her Career

After finishing her studies, Chia Shen joined Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) in 1993. She worked there as a research scientist, exploring new ideas in computer science. She later became an associate director at MERL.

From 2008 to 2016, Chia Shen was part of Harvard University. She started as a visiting senior scientist and later became a senior research fellow. At Harvard, she directed a special lab called the Scientists' Discovery Room Lab. This lab focused on how scientists make new discoveries.

Since March 2016, Chia Shen has been a program director at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is a U.S. government agency that supports research and education in science and engineering. At the NSF, she helps manage programs that focus on using technology for learning and improving STEM education across the country.

Her research focuses on many interesting areas. These include how people interact with computers, how we learn visually, and how technology can help people learn together.