High-precision mass spectrometry and environment change lab (HISPEC)
Research Field
Prof. Shen has consistently applied his leading uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating tech- niques and innovative elemental and isotopic analytical chemistry methods to fields such as geochronology, global climate change, modern and paleo-climates, paleoceanography, archae- ology, and human evolution. His primary research geological materials include carbonate-based formations, such as corals, stalagmites, and foraminifera worldwide. The main research territo- ries are in the Asia-Pacific region and the Pan-Mediterranean region.
We have applied elemental and isotopic fingerprints of biogenic and inorganic carbonates to modern and past climatic and environmental changes using state-of-art analytical techniques. Applied interdisciplinary fields include high-precision U-Th-Pa geochronology, high-resolution records of climate, environment, vegetation, and anthropogenic pollution from coralline aragonite, cave deposit, foraminiferalcalcite, and otolith aragonite world-wide, and issues involving paleoclimate change, oceanography, paleoceanography, and anthropology. We have developed geo-analytical techniques, including high-precision Sr/Ca ratio and attogram-sized 231Pa analysis by TIMS, high-precision U-Th analysis by MC-ICP-MS and SF-ICP-MS, high precision Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca determinations by cool plasma Quadrupole ICPMS (Q-ICP-MS) and SF-ICP-MS, and U isotopic and concentration measurements by Q-ICP-MS. Since 2001, we have participated in over 40 domestic and international projects in Taiwan ROC, USA, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Hungary, Singapore, and Mainland China.
Asian-African monsoon coupling and co-variations glacial and interglacial cycles.
Circum -Mediterranean westerlies evolution over the past 600 thousand years.
Human migration, settlements and reorganization in the Asian-African region.
(1) 2024-27 The highest Honorary Professor of the University of Queensland (Level E)
(2) 2024 Chair Professor, National Taiwan University
(3) 2022, 2024, 2025 Top 2% Scientist by Scopus
(4) 2023/4/27 European Geosciences Union (EGU) invited press conference
(5) 2022 Distinguished Lecture of 2022 Asia Oceania Geosciences Society (AOGS) Meeting
(6) 2021 Chair Professor, National Taiwan University
(7) 2021 One of the top climate scientists by The Reuters, UK
(8) 2019 Outstanding Research Award, National Taiwan University
(9) 2018 National Professorship Award, Ministry of Education, Taiwan ROC
(10) 2017 Outstanding Research Award and Lifetime Distinguished Professor Award, NTU
(11) 2016 Academic Award, Ministry of Education, Taiwan ROC
(12) 2014 Distinguished Professor Award, NTU
(13) 2013 Outstanding Research Award, Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan ROC
(14) 2010 Outstanding Research Award, NTU
(15) 2010 Outstanding Research Award, National Science Council, Taiwan ROC
(16) 2009 Outstanding Teacher Award, NTU
Ph.D., Institute of Chemistry, National Tsing-Hua University, 1996.06
B.S., Department of Chemistry, National Tsing-Hua University, 1988.06
Job Description
The intern will participate in speleothem sample preparation, high-resolution micro-sampling, stable isotope analysis using IRMS, trace-element analysis using ICP-MS, and U–Th age dating following clean-laboratory protocols. The student will also assist in data quality control, interpretation, and synthesis, with the goal of contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
Preferred Intern Educational Level
An early-career Ph.D. student
Skill sets or Qualities
Foundational understanding of speleothem paleoclimate archives, including how cave carbonates record environmental and hydroclimatic signals, and the principles behind extracting proxy information (stable isotopes, trace elements, age control).
Solid background in Earth system science and climate dynamics, with particular emphasis on monsoon systems, large-scale atmospheric circulation, and the role of external forcings (orbital, greenhouse gases) on climate variability across different timescales.
Experience in handling and analyzing large climate datasets, including gridded observational and reanalysis products, as well as model outputs from CMIP and PMIP experiments.
Strong quantitative and technical skills, including programming (e.g., Python), working with NetCDF and other climate data formats, and basic GIS tools for spatial data visualization and interpretation.
Ability to integrate geological and atmospheric perspectives, supported by interdisciplinary training, careful data documentation, and motivation to connect past climate variability with modern climate processes.