Dr. Cheng is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis.  Her primary research area is in structural engineering with a strong focus on innovative materials and systems and renewal of infrastructures using advanced composite materials.

Her research group here at UC Davis works on design, mechanics, and durability of innovative composite materials and systems, and the short/long-term performance of such structural systems.  As a scholarly researcher and an educator, her educational career goal is to help establish a program that integrates the wide research and teaching participation of underrepresented, minority and diversified student groups into training the next civil engineer generation in the cutting-edge multidisciplinary research field.  She has consistent track records of mentoring female and underrepresented students at UC Davis.