Cheng Li

Cheng Li is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan, specializing in planetary fluid dynamics and atmospheric science through space mission data analysis and numerical modeling.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology (2011-2017)
• B.S. in Atmospheric Science, Peking University (2007-2011)

Dr. Li's research centers on planetary exploration across our solar system and beyond, utilizing NASA mission data (Cassini to Saturn, Juno to Jupiter), ground-based telescopes, and computational models to investigate fluid motions in planetary atmospheres, oceans, and internal heat-driven convection. His work treats planets as natural laboratories for fundamental physics, with emphasis on gas giant dynamics, exoplanet characterization, and atmospheric composition studies. Key methodologies include non-hydrostatic atmospheric simulation, radiative transfer modeling, and analysis of spacecraft observational data.

His publication record (2014-2020) reveals concentrated research on Jupiter's atmospheric structure (water/ammonia distribution, polar vortices), Saturn's storm systems, and Titan's atmospheric chemistry, primarily through Juno and Cassini mission data. The work demonstrates strong integration of observational analysis with theoretical modeling, particularly in moist convection processes and non-hydrostatic atmospheric dynamics of giant planets.

Awards:

• 51 Pegasi b Fellowship, Heising-Simons Foundation (2019)
• NASA Postdoc Program Fellowship (2016)
• NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (2015)

Dr. Li's research is supported by prestigious NASA fellowships and Heising-Simons Foundation funding, with active collaboration in flagship NASA missions. His work bridges theoretical planetary science with spacecraft observational data to advance understanding of fundamental fluid processes applicable to both exoplanets and Earth's climate system.

He maintains active involvement with Juno and Cassini mission science teams, contributing to data analysis and interpretation for planetary atmospheric studies, with research conducted through university laboratories and NASA-affiliated facilities.