Currently I am interested in the research and development of renewable energy, solar thermal energy, concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, solar thermochemical fuel production, Monte Carlo ray-tracing methodology, computational fluid dynamics, numerical heat transfer and enhancements, heat and mass transfer with/without reactions in porous media or packed beds, thermal stress problems, etc.

​​​​​Including but not limited to the following research topics:

1. Efficient renewable energy & solar thermal energy applications

2. Concentrated solar collectors & receivers modeling and analysis

3. High-efficiency photo-thermal conversion mechanisms

4. High-efficiency solar absorber designing & optimizations

5. Solar thermochemistry for hydrogen production and energy storage

6. Catalytic chemical reactions in micro-channel/miniture energy systems

7. Heat and mass transfer and fluid flow in porous media or packed beds

8. Computational Fluid Dynamics for heat transfer and enhancements

9. Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulations and optimizations on optical systems

​​​​I'm also interested in thermal management technologies, thermochemistry catalyst characteristics, thermal/chemical energy storage (T/CES), solar desalination, efficient conversion technologies for biomass to renewable energy, etc.

Opening positions for graduate students are available at Dr. Cheng's group.    

The candidates must have a Bachelor degree, with solid training in one of the fields of Renewable Energy, Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science or closely related fields. Those who are enthusiastic, ambitious and determined to develop excellent academic and industrial careers are particularly welcome.