Ting Cheng

Ting Cheng serves as an Associate Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong's School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS) within the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health since December 2023. Holding appointments in both SEALS and the Joint PhD program with Lanzhou University, Cheng specializes in Quaternary science and Tibetan Plateau archaeology.

Cheng's educational background includes:

• PhD from Lanzhou University, China
• Master's degree from Lanzhou University, China
• Bachelor's degree from Yancheng Teachers University, China
• Joint PhD training at University of Wollongong

Research focuses span multiple interconnected domains of Quaternary science, with particular emphasis on Tibetan Plateau archaeology, geochronology, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Key methodologies include luminescence dating of loess deposits, sedimentary ancient DNA analysis, and paleoclimatic proxy interpretation. The research program addresses critical questions about hominin adaptation to high-altitude environments, Denisovan occupation patterns, and Holocene climate dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau.

Publication trends reveal a strong concentration on Tibetan Plateau studies since 2018, with escalating impact evidenced by significant citation counts (notably 203 citations for the 2020 Science paper on Denisovan DNA). The work integrates archaeological science, physical geography, and geochronology to reconstruct human-environment interactions across Pleistocene and Holocene timescales.

Cheng actively collaborates with international research teams across multiple high-impact publications, particularly in Nature, Science, and Quaternary Science Reviews. The research outputs demonstrate methodological innovation in luminescence dating protocols and interdisciplinary approaches to reconstructing paleoenvironments and human occupation histories.