Joanne began her academic career at The University of Manchester where she obtained a 1^st class degree in BSc Geography. Shen then continued at Manchester to complete a Masters in Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Reconstruction and a PhD in Quaternary Science on the terrestrial and aquatic impacts of Mount Mazama 6700 years ago. While completing her PhD at the University of Manchester, she contributed to teaching at all levels, which gave the skills necessary to then take up a 6-month fixed term Lectureship at Edge Hill University in 2015. This lectureship became a permanent post and has been at Edge Hill University since and is now a Senior lecturer in Physical Geography.

Joanne has a broad interest in Quaternary Science and specially, Palaeolimnology and palaeoecology. Her research has focussed on obtaining evidence and impacts of natural hazards, specifically volcanic eruptions and hurricanes. She also has an interest in the use of diatoms in forensic investigations and is developing research in diatom automation using machine learning to make the counting process more efficient, which is important for time sensitive investigations, as well as for other diatomists in the environmental field.

Joanne teaches across all levels on the BSc and BA Geography, BSC Physical Geography and Geology and BSc Geology with Physical Geography programmes. Joanne leads on several modules and contributes to several others, including fieldwork and has responsibilities as personal tutor and dissertation supervisor.