Shanhui Fan received his PhD in theoretical condensed matter physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He is currently the Joseph and Hon Mai Goodman Professor in the School of Engineering, a Professor of Electrical Engineering, a Professor of Applied Physics (by courtesy), and a Senior Fellow of the Precourt Institute for Energy, at Stanford University, USA.

His research interests are in fundamental studies of solid state and photonic structures and devices, especially photonic crystals, plasmonics, and meta-materials, and applications of these structures in energy and information technology applications. He was the first to demonstrate that the coldness of space, relative to earth, can be a major energy source for mankind. His work has opened a new direction in renewable energy research by highlighting the potential for harvesting the coldness of universe.

One of the highest-cited scientists in photonics, he has published over 600 refereed journal articles, has given over 380 plenary/keynote/invited talks, and held over 70 US patents. He has received many awards including Optica’s Adolph Lomb Medal, the National Science Foundation Career Award, a David and Lucile Packard Fellowship in Science and Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences W. O. Baker Award for Initiatives in Research, a Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, and a Simons Investigator in Physics. He is a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in Physics, and a Fellow of Optica, the American Physical Society, IEEE, and SPIE. In 2022, he received Optica's R. W. Wood Prize "for foundational discoveries in photonics, ranging from resonator, topological, and non-reciprocal photonics to energy applications including the discovery of daytime radiative cooling based on a new kind of energy source."