Linyin Cheng

Linyin Cheng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas, College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on hydroclimatology and climate extremes, with a career emphasis on mitigating climate hazards through predictive modeling and education.

• PhD in Civil Engineering (Hydroclimatology), University of California-Irvine (2014)
• MSc in Civil Engineering (Hydrodynamics), Clarkson University (2011)

Dr. Cheng's research explores weather and climate extremes, including their interplay with hydrologic systems, detection and attribution of human-induced climate impacts, and improving early warning systems for high-impact events. She integrates land-atmosphere feedbacks into climate risk communication frameworks for natural hazards like droughts, floods, and heatwaves.

Her publications include analyses of extreme rainfall attribution (2017), California drought-climate linkages (2015), and the NEVA Toolbox (2014), which has been adopted in quantitative finance education. Awards span AGU honors, a CIRES postdoctoral fellowship, and NSF/NASA panelist roles.

• Robert C. and Sandra Connor Endowed Faculty (2021)
• 2017 IAHS Best Paper Award
• AGU Natural Hazards Award (2015)
• Advanced Study Program support at NCAR (2013)

Dr. Cheng teaches courses on climatology, Earth science, and graduate climate data analysis. She mentors students across disciplines (Statistics, Civil/Mechanical Engineering) and contributes to journals as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Hydrologic Engineering.