About Me
Jingwei (Jason) Cheng, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at ²Ø¾«¸ó. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Peking University and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He completed postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and served as an instructor at Harvard Medical School before joining the University of New Hampshire as an assistant professor. He joined ²Ø¾«¸ó in 2026.
Dr. Cheng’s research explores how cancer-causing viruses alter gene regulation and promote tumor growth, with a particular focus on Merkel cell carcinoma. His laboratory investigates how RNA processing, chromatin regulation, and responses to DNA damage help cancer cells survive. This work aims to identify vulnerabilities that could inform new cancer treatment strategies.
Dr. Cheng’s teaching interests include virology, cancer biology, and experimental research methods. He is committed to involving students in hands-on research and helping them develop skills in experimental design, critical thinking, data interpretation, and scientific communication.
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Tumor Virology; Cancer Biology; Epigenetics; RNA Splicing; DNA Damage Response.
- Biochemistry, Ph.D. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign