Yuanchen Shen joined Guanglu Lab as an undergraduate student in chemistry. In June 2023, the group held a farewell for Yuanchen and Wenchao as they graduated. During his time in the group, Yuanchen gave several presentations and helped classmates with theoretical simulation. In July 2025, he returned to the group meeting and shared recent progress on heteroatom-modified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

In his earlier profile, Yuanchen described himself as curious about how research practice is carried out in a lab and eager to give it a shot as early as possible. His early training in the group involved organic synthesis and the design of host-guest systems.