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. 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
2. 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
3. X. Song, W. Fu, and U K. Cheang*, "Immunomodulation and delivery of macrophage using nano-smooth drug-loaded magnetic microrobots for dual targeting cancer cell therapy," iScience, 2022, 25(7), 104507
4. Y. Zhong, X. Mu, and U K. Cheang*, "High-performance and selective adsorption of ZIF-8/MIL-100 hybrids towards organic pollutants," Nanoscale Adv., 2022, 4(5), 1431-1444
5. X. Mu, Z. Wang, Y. Zhong, T. Jiang, and U K. Cheang*, "Development of 2D MOFs-based microrobots under annealing treatment and their biomedical application," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2021, 60(26), 9465-9474
 
Selected Patents
1. U Kei Cheang, Xiaoxia Song, “A type of micro/nanorobot and their preparation method and application (一种微纳机器人及其制备方法和应用)”, 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 (一种载药纳米机器人及其制备方法和应用)”, Filing date: 2020-11-13, Issue date: 2022-02-08, China, Invention patent, 202011272419.4