Dr. U Kei Cheang is presently an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). In 2015, he completed his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University, where he held the prestigious NSF GRFP fellowship. Dr. Cheang joined SUSTech in 2017 and has been leading a research team as an independent PI to develop micro- and nanorobots. His work on robotic microswimmers received the UNESCO Netexplo Top 10 Award. Dr. Cheang was awarded the MOST High-End Foreign Expert Award in 2019 and the Shenzhen Excellent Young Scholars Award in 2022.
Research Areas
? Micro- and Nanorobotics
Education
? 2010 – 2015, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, USA
? 2005 – 2010, B.S./M.S., Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, USA
Work Experience
? 2023/06 – present, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
? 2017/06 – 2023/06, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, China
? 2015/06 – 2017/06, Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Drexel University, USA
? 2016/01 – 2016/05, Adjunct Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Rowan University, USA
? 2011/01 – 2011/03, Adjunct Professor, Goodwin College, Drexel University, USA
? 2009/03 – 2009/09, Research Engineer, Health Device Group, ECRI Institute, USA
? 2006/09 – 2007/03, Mechanical Engineer, Automation Department, Metrologic Instrument Inc., USA
Awards
? 2022, Shenzhen Excellent Young Talent Award
? 2019, MOST High-End Foreign Expert Award
? 2019, Shenzhen Overseas High-Level Talent Award
? 2016, UNESCO Netexplo Top 10 Award
? 2015, Best Conference Paper Award, IEEE URAI
? 2010 – 2013, NSF GRFP Fellowship
? 2012, NSF EAPSI Fellowship
? 2010 – 2012, Drexel University Provost Fellowship
? 2010 – 2011, NSF IGERT Fellowship
? 2010, James F. Lincoln Arc Welding National Competition Silver Award
? 2009 – 2010, Anthony Digneo Endowed Scholarship
? 2007 – 2010, Augusta Hess Scholarship
? 2006 – 2010, Albert Soffa Endowed Scholarship
? 2005 – 2010, Drexel University Endowed Scholarship
? 2005 – 2008, PHEAA Academic Excellence Scholarship
? 2000 – 2005, White-Williams Scholarship
Books
1. M.J. Kim, A.A. Julius, U K. Cheang, “Microbiorobotics: Biologically Inspired Microscale Robotic Systems,” 2th edition, Elsevier, 2017.
Selected Journal Papers
1. X. Song, A. Gul, H. Zhao, R. Qian, L. Fang, C. Huang, L. Xi, L. Wang, U K. Cheang*, "Hybrid Membrane Biomimetic Photothermal Nanorobots for Enhanced Chemodynamic-Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy," ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2025, 17(4), 5784–5798
2. Y. Zhong, J. Zhang, L. Fang, and U K. Cheang*, "MOF-modified microrollers for bioimaging and sustained antibiotic delivery," ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2024, 16(36), 47163–47177
3. H. Wang, J. Xiong, Y. Cai, W. Fu, Y. Zhong, T. Jiang, and U K. Cheang*, "Stabilization of CsPbBr3 nanowires through SU-8 encapsulation for the fabrication of bilayer microswimmers with magnetic and fluorescence properties," Small, 2024, 2400346
4. Z. Chen, X. Mu, X. Song, J. Zhang, and U K. Cheang*, "2D magnetic microswimmers for targeted cell transport and 3D cell culture structure construction," ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2023, 15(7), 8840-8853
5. X. Song, R. Qian, T. Li, W. Fu, L. Fang, Y. Cai, H. Guo, L. Xi, and U K. Cheang*, "Imaging guided biomimetic M1 macrophage membrane-camouflaged magnetic nanorobots for photothermal immunotargeting cancer therapy," ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2022, 14(51), 56548–56559
Selected Patents
1. U Kei Cheang, Xiaoxia Song, “A type of micro/nanorobot and their preparation method and application (一種微納機器人及其制備方法和應用)”, Filing date: 2021-04-16, Issue date: 2022-12-09, China, Invention patent, 202110412369.3
2. U Kei Cheang, Xiaoxia Song, Teng Jiang, Siqi Guo, “A drug-loaded nanorobot and their preparation method and application (一種載藥納米機器人及其制備方法和應用)”, Filing date: 2020-11-13, Issue date: 2022-02-08, China, Invention patent, 202011272419.4
