Wu Zeng

2026 Tsinghua University Graduate Special Scholarship candidate
China University Students’ Self-Improvement Star (featured by People’s Daily, China Youth Daily, etc.)
Selected for the 2025 CAST Young S&T Talent Development Program (PhD Track)

Born Sep 2002 · Hengyang, Hunan, China · Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
+86 180 0747 6572 · zeng-w22@mails.tsinghua.edu.cn

Education

• Sep 2022 – Present Direct PhD Student (in progress), Tsinghua University — Biomedical Engineering

  • Research interests: integrated microfluidic systems & point-of-care testing (POCT); nanopore sequencing & automated library preparation; organoid culture & drug screening

• Sep 2018 – Jul 2022 B.Eng., Dalian Maritime University (Project 211) — Marine Engineering (Seagoing Track)

  • Core coursework: mechanical design, fluid mechanics, marine automation, ship electrical equipment & systems, etc.

Research Experience

• Dec 2021 – Present School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University

  • Advisor: Peng Liu (Research Professor; Party Committee Secretary)
  • Led development of an ultra-sensitive, multi-target integrated nucleic-acid testing system (with Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University) for emerging major infectious pathogens in pediatrics; achieved stable sensitivity of 10 copies/mL and on-demand parallel detection of 10–20 pathogens.
  • Led development of China’s first fully integrated forensic SNP rapid-testing instrument (with the Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science); reconstructs macroscopic phenotypic traits from trace biological evidence; DNA-to-≥200 SNP genotypes in <4 hours.
  • Led development of a fully automated portable NGS library-prep instrument (with PLA General Hospital & Astronaut Research and Training Center) for frontline and space-station environmental surveillance of X pathogens; sample-in to library-out with real-time reporting in 4–7 hours.
  • Led development of a fully integrated organoid generation, culture, and drug-sensitivity analysis system; >90% in-hospital organoid establishment success rate for puncture/biopsy samples; delivers drug-sensitivity results within ~1 week.

• Dec 2020 – Dec 2021 Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • Advisors: Bingcheng Lin (Research Professor); Xianming Liu (Associate Research Professor)
  • Contributed to a digital microfluidic (DMF) “droplet CPU” platform; built spatially resolved antibody barcode arrays on the hydrophobic layer of DMF electrode plates for multiplex protein detection.

• Jun 2019 – Dec 2020 Microfluidic Chip Laboratory, Dalian Maritime University

  • Advisor: Zhijian Liu (Professor)
  • Led development of a portable rapid ballast-water testing device; applied microfluidic separation for sample pretreatment in ballast-water inspection.

Industry / Social Enterprise Experience

• Dec 2021 – Present Beijing Zijing Biotechnology Co., Ltd. — Technical Consultant
  • Co-developed a “Bioaerosol Novel Coronavirus Monitoring System,” supporting Beijing Winter Olympics operations and infection control in fever clinics; received the Outstanding Paper Award at the 2023 National Conference on Disinfection & Infection Control.
  • Led/participated in joint R&D with multiple partners on: (1) at-home nucleic-acid rapid-test POCT, (2) integrated respiratory multiplex testing, (3) automated nucleic-acid extraction workstation, and (4) an integrated extraction-to-library-prep system.
  • Delivered chip-technology interfacing, instrument/system design, temperature control, and fluorescence excitation/detection prototyping; coordinated cross-functional teams (instrument, chip, reagents, process); contributed to roadmap planning, standards setting, QC design, cost control, and manufacturing process optimization.

Skills

• Opto-mechatronic instrument design; system architecture, build/bring-up, debugging, and productization experience
• Microfluidic chip design (AutoCAD, SolidWorks) and fabrication (PDMS / PMMA / PC)
• Mechatronics control hardware (Altium Designer) and programming (LabVIEW)
• Molecular biology experiments (mNGS; tNGS; ELISA; qPCR/RT-qPCR; RPA; LAMP) and cell culture
• 3D modeling & rendering (3ds Max, Corona); video editing (Premiere Pro); illustration/design (Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Experience in research proposal writing and grant applications, with ongoing contacts at PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital), Beijing Ditan Hospital, the Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science, Chongqing Medical University, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Guangzhou Medical University, and Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, supporting project applications, research collaborations and clinical testing.

Publications

Representative First-Author Papers (Published and in Preparation)

* Co-first authors.

1. Li B*, Zeng W*, Xiuli Wang*, Gu X, et al. Reconfigurable spatial-fluidic architecture enables decision-synchronous genomic diagnostics. (Under second review at Nature.)
2. Zeng W*, Li B*, Liu X, Gu X, et al. AI-native microfluidic twins enable self-calibrating,accurate point-of-care molecular testing. (Prepare for submission to Science Advances)
3. Li B*, Zeng W*, Zhou T*, et al. Omni-spatial pathogen surveillance enables spatiotemporal biorisk mapping and closed-loop environmental intervention. (Nature sensors，in peer review.)
4. Zeng W.*, Li B.*, Chen Y.*, Lin, B., Gu, X, Liu, P. & Zhang, Y. (2025). A finger-actuated microfluidic system for point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A. Analytical Chemistry., 97(34), 18469–18478. (SCI Q1, IF=6.7)
5. Li B*, Gu X*, Zeng W*, Lin B, Liu X, Lim CT, Liu P. Ultrasensitive Nucleic Acid Testing: From Foundational Research to Clinical Translation. ACS Nano. 2025 Dec 2;19(47):40304-40344. (SCI Q1, IF=15.8)
6. Li, B.*, Lin, B.*, Zeng, W.*, Gu, Y., Zhao, Y., & Liu, P. (2025). A fully integrated microfluidic cartridge for rapid and ultrasensitive nucleic acid detection from oropharyngeal swabs. Lab on a chip, 25(3), 454–464. (SCI Q1, IF=6.1)
7. Zeng W*, Zhang B*, Gu X, et al. A Microfluidic Platform with Passive Sequential Fluid Release for Automated Multiplex RT-LAMP Detection of HIV and HCV. (Prepare for submission to Lab on a chip)
8. Zeng W*, Peng Z*, Liu X, Gu X, et al. A Microfluidic Platform Based on Liquid-Level Difference for the Multiplexed Detection of Southeast Asian Viruses. (Prepare for submission to Biosensors & Bioelectronics)

Other Related Papers

1. Li, B.*, Lin, B.*, Wang, Y.*, Shi, Y.*, Zeng, W., Zhao, Y., Gu, Y., Liu, C., Gao, H., Cheng, H., Zheng, X., Xiang, G., Wang, G., & Liu, P. (2024). Multi-scenario surveillance of respiratory viruses in aerosols with sub-single-copy spatial resolution. Nature communications, 15(1), 8770. (SCI Q1, IF=16.6)
2. Lin, B.*, Li, B.*, Zeng, W., Zhao, Y., Li, H., Gu, Y., & Liu, P. (2024). Needle-Plug/Piston-Based Modular Mesoscopic Design Paradigm Coupled With Microfluidic Device for Point-of-Care Pooled Testing. Advanced science, e2406076. (SCI Q1, IF=14.3)
3. Lin, B., Geng, Z., Chen, Y., Zeng, W., Li, B., Zhang, Y., & Liu, P. (2023). A fully integrated nucleic acid analysis system for multiplex detection of genetic polymorphisms related to folic acid metabolism. Lab on a chip, 23(7), 1794–1803. (SCI Q1 IF=6.1)
4. Wang, S., Liu, Z., Wu, S., Sun, H., Zeng, W., Wei, J., Fan, Z., Sui, Z., Liu, L., & Pan, X. (2021). Microalgae separation by inertia-enhanced pinched flow fractionation. Electrophoresis, 42(21-22), 2223–2229. (SCI Q2, IF=2.8)
5. Li B*, Zeng W*, et al. Ultrasensitive diagnosis of herpesviruses in cerebrospinal fluid via cascade nucleic acid purification within a fully integrated microfluidic system. (ACS sensors，in peer review.)
6. Gu X*, Zeng W*, Liu X, et al. An amphoteric fibrous interface enabling tandem-membrane purification and confined amplification for ultrasensitive viral RNA detection. (ACS Nano，in peer review.)
7. 刘欣赫*，曾武*，张博闻，顾轩宇，刘鹏；腕上实验室：面向运动健康的可穿戴体液分析，生物化学与生物物理进展.

Patents

1. Liu, P.; Zeng, W.; Lin, B.; Li, B.; Zhao, Y. Pathogen nucleic acid analysis device. CN115747031B.
2. Liu, P.; Zeng, W.; Li, B. Microfluidic chip with a quantitative reagent-aspiration unit and control method. CN118698620B.
3. Zeng, W.; Lin, B.; Li, B.; Shen, G. Cascade reagent sequential-injection tube assembly and injection control method. CN117816266A.
4. Zeng, W.; Li, B.; Lin, B.; Shen, G. Cascade reagent mixing/injection tube assembly. CN117696139A.
5. Zeng, W.; Li, B.; Shen, G. Microfluidic chip and its control method. CN118558379A.
6. Zeng, W.; Li, B.; Shen, G. Microfluidic chip with a quantitative reagent-aspiration unit and control method. CN118698620A.
7. Zeng, W.; Li, B.; Shen, G. Microfluidic chip and method enabling quantitative reagent aspiration. CN118577315A.
8. Li, B.; Zeng, W.; Lin, B.; Shen, G. Needle-piercing rubber-seal valve with integrated spring and its control method. CN117548161A.
9. Li, B.; Zeng, W.; Shen, G. Microfluidic chip for pathogen lysis and nucleic-acid extraction and its extraction method. CN118546742A.
10. Li, B.; Zeng, W.; Shen, G. Reagent tube with multiple reagent storage chambers, microfluidic chip and control method. CN118558380A.
11. Liu, P.; Li, B.; Zeng, W. Microfluidic cartridge and method for nucleic-acid testing based on two-stage purification. CN118879453A.

Conferences & Presentations

• May 2026 China Biomedical Engineering Conference and Innovative Healthcare Summit, Suzhou
  Poster: Lab on the Wrist: Wearable Biofluid Analysis for Sports and Health.
• May 2026 MINE 2026 PhD Forum, Microsystems & Nanoengineering — Outstanding Presenter
  Oral presentation: Microfluidic nucleic-acid testing system based on a needle-plug mesoscopic design paradigm.
• Nov 2025 12th China Microfluidics High-Level Academic Forum and 5th China Microfluidics Industry Forum, Hangzhou
  Oral presentation: Multi-scenario surveillance of respiratory viruses in aerosols with sub-single-copy spatial resolution.
• Apr 2025 Chinese Academy of Engineering Symposium and 14th China Molecular Diagnostics Technology Conference, Suzhou
  Poster: Rapid multiplex nucleic-acid analysis using microfluidics.
• Nov 2024 1st Graduate Academic Forum, School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University
  Oral presentation: Fully integrated rapid multi-target nucleic-acid analysis on a microfluidic chip.
• May 2024 Tsinghua Engineering Doctoral Spring Forum — Outstanding Poster Award
  Poster: Integrated microfluidic equipment for rapid forensic SNP testing.

Awards & Honors

PhD Period (Sep 2022 – Present)

• Dec 2025 · Selected for the 2025 CAST Young S&T Talent Development Program (PhD Track)

• Oct 2025 · National Scholarship for Doctoral Students

• Jun 2026 · Outstanding Student CPC Member, Tsinghua University

• Jun 2026 · Outstanding Student (Sanhao Student), Tsinghua University

• Oct 2026 · Tsinghua University Graduate Comprehensive Excellence Scholarship — First Class

• Oct 2026 · Tsinghua University Outstanding Social Work Scholarship

• Nov 2024 · Tsinghua Graduate Comprehensive Scholarship — Second Class

• Nov 2023 · Tsinghua Graduate Comprehensive Scholarship — First Class

• Jul 2024 · China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (Beijing Division) — First Prize

• Jul 2025 · China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (Beijing Division) — Second Prize

• Jun 2023 · 4th Capital Universities Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition — Bronze Award

• Jun 2023 · Top 30, 10th Tsinghua University President’s Cup Innovation Challenge

• Dec 2022 · Tsinghua Med-Engineering Integration Innovation Competition (1st Edition) — Third Prize

Undergraduate Period (Sep 2018 – Sep 2022)

• Jul 2022 · Outstanding Graduate of Liaoning Province

• Oct 2021 · China University Students’ Self-Improvement Star

• Dec 2021 · Wu Fu–Zhenhua Transportation Education Outstanding Student Award, Ministry of Transport

• Dec 2021 · Dalian Maritime University: Science and Technology Innovation Star (7th Youth Role Models) and Perseverance and Progress Star (8th Youth Role Models)

• Dec 2021 · COSCO SHIPPING Science and Technology Innovation Role Model, Dalian Maritime University

• May 2019 · Outstanding Communist Youth League Member, Dalian Maritime University

• Nov 2019 · National Inspirational Scholarship (Top 1%, three consecutive years)

• Nov 2019 · Dalian Maritime University EQ Scholarship — First Class (two consecutive years, 1/238)

• Sep 2019 · National College Student Science & Technology Innovation Competition (Team Leader) — National First Prize

• Oct 2020 · 4th National Innovation Methods Application Competition (Team Leader) — National First Prize

• Nov 2020 · 12th Challenge Cup Business Plan Competition — National First Prize

• Oct 2019 · 6th Chuangqingchun China Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Team Leader) — National Second Prize

• Aug 2020 · 11th China College Students Service Outsourcing Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Team Leader) — National Second Prize

• Oct 2019 · 13th iCAN International Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Team Leader) — National Third Prize

• Nov 2020 · 6th Internet+ College Students Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition (Team Leader) — National Third Prize

• Oct 2020 · National College Student Physics Experiment Competition — National Third Prize

Leadership & Service

• Jan 2025 – Present · Tsinghua University dual-role political counselor.

• Jan 2025 – Present · Party-building, administrative and cohort assistant, School of Biomedical Engineering, Tsinghua University. Organized graduate Party branch activities and member development with no returned materials; coordinated cohorts across three year groups and supported over 50 doctoral students. Two students in the cohort received Tsinghua Graduate Sailing Awards. Rated excellent in two consecutive annual moral-education assistant evaluations.

• Sep 2024 – Present · Secretary of the Youth League Branch (Class of 2022, Biomedical Engineering PhD) and organizational committee member of the Party branch.

• Mar 2024 – Present · Gold lecturer and Healthcare Subgroup Lead, Tsinghua PhD Student Lecturer Corps; also Top Ten Trainee, class monitor, cohort lecturer and teaching assistant. Developed four university-level featured courses on themes including Healthy China and the first-launch economy; delivered more than 40 talks reaching over 10,000 people. Attended the central lecture group’s inaugural report at the Great Hall of the People as a student representative, helped establish the school’s lecturer chapter, and received CCTV coverage for related talks.

• Dec 2025 – Present · Editorial assistant, Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics (supported by the Biophysical Society of China).

• Sep 2019 – Sep 2021 · Captain, Dalian Maritime University Diving Team; maintained three years of morning training and completed all water-performance tasks.

• Sep 2018 – Dec 2021 · Recognized for outstanding work-study service at Dalian Maritime University; fully self-financed college expenses through work-study.

Certificates

• Dec 2024 Teacher Qualification Certificate of the People’s Republic of China (Senior High School Biology)