Narrative CV

Dr. Ji-Yen Cheng's Ph.D. training prompted him to build an OPO laser and an automatic data acquisition system for studying the vibrational spectra of DNA binding molecules. During his post-doctoral training, Dr. Cheng integrated microfluidic techniques with automation to construct a 1,536-channel oligonucleotide synthesizer. In his own lab, Dr. Cheng and his team harness laser microfabrication techniques to develop various types of microfluidic devices for biological studies.

Dr. Cheng's lab has developed culturing devices for cells (including mammalian cell lines and stem cells) and organisms (such as zebra fish and coral fragments). These devices allow the introduction of physical stimulations such as electric fields, temperature, and optical stimulation to the cultured cells for long-term (up to several weeks) studies. The zebra fish device provides life support for the specimens and enables cellular-level observation, assisting a collaborating biological lab with wound healing studies. The coral chip assists another biological lab in selecting temperature-resistant corals for coral restoration applications.

Dr. Cheng's team is able to obtain a large number of cell images and spectra needed for AI analysis. Recently, they have successfully applied AI for label-free cell viability quantification. Moving forward, Dr. Cheng plans to integrate AI process control with lab automation to develop single-lab automatic cell passage systems.

Education

• Ph.D. Chemistry Department, National Taiwan University, TAIWAN, 1998
• M.S. Chemistry Department, National Taiwan University, TAIWAN, 1992
• B.S. Chemistry Department, National Taiwan University, TAIWAN, 1990

Positions and Career

• Deputy Director, RCAS, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, (2023- )
• Executive Officer of Thematic Center Bio & Medical Application (2021-2022)
• Executive Officer of Thematic Center of Mechanics and Engineering Sciences (2015-2020)
• Research Fellow, RCAS, Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2013- )
• Associate Research Fellow, RCAS, Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2007-2013)
• Assistant Research Fellow, RCAS, Academia Sinica, Taiwan (2001-2007)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, IBMS, Academia Sinica, Taiwan (1998-2001)
• Adjunct Professor, National Taiwan Ocean University (2006- )
• Adjunct Professor, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (2007- )
• Adjunct Professor, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University (2017- )

Selected Publications

• Lai, Y.T., Wei, P.K., Kuo, C.Y. and Cheng, J.Y. (2023) Inference detection and classification of illicit drugs by a modest Raman spectrometer with a convolutional neural network analyzer. Sensor Actuat B-Chem , 375. ARTN 132923 10.1016/j.snb.2022.132923.
• Belkin, S. and Cheng, J.Y. (2023) Miniaturized bioluminescent wholecell sensor systems. Current Opinion in Biotechnology , 82. ARTN 102952 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102952.
• Huang, W.-C., Wei, C.-D., Belkin, S., Hsieh, T.-H. and Cheng, J.-Y. (2022) Machine-learning assisted antibiotic detection and categorization using a bacterial sensor array. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 355, 131257.
• Chien, T.Y., Marin-Benavides, R., Belkin, S. and Cheng, J.Y. (2022) Rapid printing of a Bacterial array for a Solid-Phase Assay (BacSPA) of heavy metal ions. Sensor Actuat B-Chem, 359.
• Chou, S.E., Lee, K.L., Wei, P.K. and Cheng, J.Y. (2021) Screening antimetastasis drugs by cell adhesion-induced color change in a biochip. Lab Chip, 21, 2955-2970.
• Chang, H.F., Chou, S.E. and Cheng, J.Y. (2021) Electric-Field-Induced Neural Precursor Cell Differentiation in Microfluidic Devices. Jove-J Vis Exp.
• Yeung, W.K., Li, H.-F., Chung, C.-L., Lee, K.-L., Wei, P.-K., Lin, H., Chen, H.-H. and Cheng, J.-Y. (2020) Promising urinary miRNA biomarkers t-SPR profiling for urothelial cell carcinoma. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 322, 128605.
• Tsai, H.-F., Tsai, Y.-C., Yagur-Kroll, S., Palevsky, N., Belkin, S. and Cheng, J.-Y. (2015) Water pollutant monitoring by a whole cell array through lens-free detection on CCD. Lab Chip, 15, 1472-1480.
• Wang, C.-C., Ka, Y.-C., Chi, P.-Y., Huang, C.-W., Lin, J.-Y., Chou, C.-F., Cheng, J.-Y. and Lee, C.-H. (2011) Asymmetric cancer-cell filopodium growth induced by electric-fields in a microfluidic culture chip. Lab Chip, 11, 695-699.
• Hsu, T.-H., Yen, M.-H., Liao, W.-Y., Cheng, J.-Y. and Lee, C.-H. (2009) Label-free quantification of asymmetric cancer-cell filopodium activities in a multi-gradient chip. Lab Chip, 9, 884-890.
• Cheng, J.-Y., Yen, M.-H., Kuo, C.-T. and Young, T.-H. (2008) A transparent cell culture microchamber with variably controlled concentration gradient generator and flow field rectifier. Biomicrofluidics, 2, 024105.
• Wei, C.-W., Cheng, J.-Y., Huang, C.-T., Yen, M.-H. and Young, T.-H. (2005) Using a microfluidic device for 1 microliter DNA microarray hybridization in 500 seconds. Nucleic Acids Research Methods, 33, e78.

• Lai, Y.T., Wei, P.K., Kuo, C.Y. and Cheng, J.Y. (2023) Inference detection and classification of illicit drugs by a modest Raman spectrometer with a convolutional neural network analyzer. Sensor Actuat B-Chem, 375. ARTN 132923 10.1016/j.snb.2022.132923.
• Belkin, S. and Cheng, J.Y. (2023) Miniaturized bioluminescent whole-cell sensor systems. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 82. ARTN 102952 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102952.
• Huang, W.-C., Wei, C.-D., Belkin, S., Hsieh, T.-H. and Cheng, J.-Y. (2022) Machine-learning assisted antibiotic detection and categorization using a bacterial sensor array. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 355, 131257.
• Chien, T.Y., Marin-Benavides, R., Belkin, S. and Cheng, J.Y. (2022) Rapid printing of a Bacterial array for a Solid-Phase Assay (BacSPA) of heavy metal ions. Sensor Actuat B-Chem, 359.
• Chou, S.E., Lee, K.L., Wei, P.K. and Cheng, J.Y. (2021) Screening anti-metastasis drugs by cell adhesion-induced color change in a biochip. Lab Chip, 21, 2955-2970.