Cheng Yafang

Cheng Yafang is a leading atmospheric scientist and Head of the Minerva Research Group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany. She also serves as a Distinguished Guest Professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and has held academic roles at Peking University, University of Iowa, and Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research.

Her research is centered on atmospheric aerosols and their multifaceted impacts on air quality, public health, and climate systems. Her work delves into haze chemistry, reactive nitrogen chemistry, and the formation and transformation of aerosols in the atmosphere.

Internationally recognized, Cheng has received numerous accolades including the Atmospheric Science Ascent Award from the American Geophysical Union and the Highly Cited Researcher distinction from Web of Science. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

• Minerva Outstanding Female Scientist Award (2014)
• Science Breakthroughs of the Year 2021 in Physical Sciences (Falling Walls Foundation)
• Schmauss Award (2020, German Association for Aerosol Research)
• Top 2% most-cited scientists globally (Stanford University & Mendeley)