Yong Zheng

Yong Zheng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Her research centers on the Cosmic Ecosystem connecting galaxies, their circumgalactic medium (CGM), and the intergalactic medium, with focus on baryon cycling between galactic environments using high-resolution spectroscopy and numerical simulations.

Her academic background includes:

• PhD in Physics, Columbia University (2018)
• Bachelor of Science, Peking University (2012)

Dr. Zheng investigates gas flows between galaxies and their CGM to understand galaxy evolution mechanisms. Her work combines observational data from Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based facilities with hydrodynamical simulations, emphasizing Milky Way analogs and dwarf galaxies. Key themes include metallicity gradients, gas accretion/outflow dynamics, and the role of environment in shaping galactic ecosystems.

Analysis of her recent publications (2023-2025) reveals dominant focus on CGM physics across multiple galaxy types. Major trends include characterization of gas flows at disk-halo interfaces, metallicity mapping in low-metallicity environments, and angular momentum evolution in simulated galaxies. Her work increasingly leverages multi-mission data (HST, ULLYSES) and large collaborations like FOGGIE and METAL-Z.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship

Dr. Zheng mentors graduate students in astrophysics research and has secured funding through competitive fellowships. She actively contributes to major collaborative initiatives including the Plane Quasar Survey and METAL-Z project, focusing on observational constraints for galaxy evolution models.

She is integral to the FOGGIE (Figuring Out Gas and Galaxies in Enzo) simulation collaboration, the Plane Quasar Survey for low-latitude CGM mapping, and the METAL-Z initiative studying metal evolution in dwarf galaxies. Her work bridges observational astronomy and computational astrophysics through these team-based approaches.