Dr. Shao received his medical and master's degrees from Soochow University Medical School (China), and postdoctoral training in neuroscience at Colorado State University and the University of Utah. Dr. Shao was a Research Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at Bethesda, MD before he joined Johns Hopkins in 2014.

Dr. Shao pursues a research career focusing on understanding cellular mechanisms of acquired epilepsy as well as novel treatments for epilepsy. Using animal models of acquired epilepsy and electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques, he studies the roles of excitatory neuronal circuits, inhibitory synaptic transmission, as well as neuronal network in the process of epileptogenesis. He is committed to continue exploring novel mechanisms of acquired epilepsy and new approaches for epilepsy treatment and prevention.