Dr. Yong Zheng is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Before joining RPI, Dr. Zheng was a Miller Postdoctoral Fellow at Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, UC Berkeley. She received her PhD in 2018 from Columbia University in the City of New York and her bachelor degree in 2012 from Peking University, Beijing, China.

Dr. Zheng's research focuses on the Cosmic EcoSystem that connects a galaxy, its circumgalactic medium (CGM), and the vast intergalactic medium. In particular, she is interested in constructing a coherent picture of how baryons are cycled and recycled between galaxies and their surrounding environments. Dr. Zheng's research uses high-resolution spectroscopy and numerical simulations extensively.

Dr. Zheng is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in her work space for her students and colleagues. Along her career trajectory, she has been fortunate to have many role models, who have encouraged, supported, and inspired her to pursue her science ambitions. She strives to do the same for future generations.