Yuqing Cheng

EDUCATION

College / University

Duke Kunshan University

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Molecular Bioscience, Neuroscience

Country

China (P.R.)

Lab Experience

Molecular Biology: Plasmid design, DNA cloning, PCR/qPCR, Western blot, ELISA, affinity purification, EMSA, DNA topology assay, bacterial and mammalian cell culture, primary cell isolation and culture
Neuroscience: brain sectioning (cryostat and vibratome), immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, stereotaxic injection
Animal Handling and Behavioral Analysis: rodent handling and behavioral paradigms (open field, tail suspension, forced swim, elevated plus maze). Sacrifice by intracardial perfusion and decapitation. Automated analysis using Anymaze and DeepLabCut
Bioinformatics: molecular docking, QSAR, phylogenetic analysis, comparative genomics
Data Analysis: R, Python, vibe coding

Projects / Research

2024 – 2026: "Psychoactive effects of the Yunnan fungus Lanmaoa asiatica", Dr. Pedro Rada-Rincon, Duke Kunshan University, China
2025: "The effects of Nup153 knockdown on neural progenitor differentiation", Dr. Anne West, Duke University School of Medicine, U.S.
2024 – 2026: "DNA binding and supercoiling activities of the SAF/pseudo-SAP boxes of the oncoprotein DEK", Dr. Ferdinand Kappes, Duke Kunshan University, China
2023 – 2024: Developed a probiotic tampon prototype to prevent toxic shock syndrome, DKU iGEM 2024
2022 – 2023: Developed a phagemid-based antimicrobial peptide and RNAi treatment for citrus greening, DKU iGEM 2023

Scholarships / Awards

2025– 2026:	Dachuang Grant for Innovation Projects of 20,000 RMB, awarded to my research team on Lanmaoa asiatica where I served as leader; Duke Kunshan University Innovation Incubator
2025– 2026:	Signature Work Research Grant and Signature Fund totaling 10,000 RMB, awarded to my signature work (undergraduate thesis) on Lanmaoa asiatica; Duke Kunshan University Signature Work Office
2024:	Team DKU, which I lead, was awarded silver medal in iGEM 2024; International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

My research background spans molecular biology, pharmacology, behavioral analysis, and computational approaches, giving me a unique perspective on how the very complex neural system functions on many different layers researchers have access to. As I move into my MSc, my primary interest is in neurolinguistics: how these biological and computational perspectives apply to the complex, potentially layered, and sometimes chaotic language processing in the brain. I come to neurolinguistics from the mechanistic side rather than the linguistic side, and I'm particularly curious about the levels of analysis where neural implementation and cognitive function actually constrain each other—where knowing the biology changes what theories of language processing are plausible, and vice versa.