Zhen is a PhD student in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, where his research focuses on the global energy transition and the political economy of critical minerals. He brings hands-on experience in the solar sector, having helped develop solar energy projects in Ghana and supported SUNDA Solar’s entry into the Italian market through market data analysis and business negotiations. Zhen holds an MS in Global Affairs from NYU, where he specialized in data analytics, and a BA in English from Nantong University.