Zheng’s research develops additive manufacturing (3D printing) technologies and material synthesis to create multi-functional materials and device systems with controlled micro-architectures and encoded properties. Their research combines optics, mechanics and material science to develop new materials and additive manufacturing approaches for applications in intelligent materials and structures, energy, robotics, communications and healthcare. Their research is funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Office of Naval Research, DARPA, the Air Force and various industries. Before joining UCLA, Zheng was an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. Prior to that appointment, he was a research engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Zheng received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University.

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics (dual degree), Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

• DARPA Young Faculty Award
• Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award
• 3M NTF Faculty Award
• Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Excellence (FAME) Young Researcher Award
• Outstanding Assistant Professor Award, Virginia Tech
• Paper of the Year Award, Journal of Materials Research, Materials Research Society
• Director’s Award for Publication Excellence, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, Boston University