Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2020
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2017
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 2014
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer, Illinois, #062074128
Additional Education & Training
  • Certificate in Research Communication, Northwestern University
  • Management for Scientists and Engineers Certificate, Northwestern University
  • Predictive Science & Engineering Design Certificate, Northwestern University
  • SWE/Chevron Scholar
Professional Affiliations
  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Society of Woman Engineers (SWE)
Languages
  • Cantonese Chinese

Dr. Cheng has extensive experience in mechanical failure analysis and software review of complex electromechanical devices in consumer products and industrial equipment. Dr. Cheng has expertise in analyzing a wide range of electromechanical equipment and routinely applies this expertise in assisting clients with the review and synthesis of technical documentation, safety standards, and regulatory statutes. Example systems that Dr. Cheng has analyzed include engine control software, railcar component monitoring sensors, power generation machinery, oil and gas equipment, and electrical switching equipment. She has also investigated derailments, railcar corrosion and component failure, and aircraft component manufacturing defects and damage.

Dr. Cheng has substantial experience in assisting clients with technical analysis (for example through mechanical inspection and source code review) relating to intellectual property disputes. She has assisted clients in performing technical analyses related to patent and trade secret litigation for a range of consumer products and industrial equipment.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Cheng completed her Ph.D. at Northwestern University in computational mechanics and analytical modeling of metal deformation and manufacturing processes. She has experience in thermal and mechanical finite element analysis (FEA) for modeling plasticity, damage, and microstructure evolution. She also researched toolpath design and optimization for metal 3D printing and incremental sheet metal forming. During her studies, she also performed research in collaboration with Ford Motor Company to develop software for modeling the deformation and failure of carbon fiber composites. She has experience in data analysis, parallel and high-performance computing, image processing, data visualization, data acquisition, and experiment design.