About
I’m Anthony Cheng, a fourth year PhD student and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellow in the Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) Department of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) under the direction of Dr. Erica Fuchs, Dr. Valerie Karplus, and Dr. Jeremy Michalek. I previously graduated from MIT in 2020, where I majored in Materials Science and Engineering (with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Materials Commercialization), with a double minor in Computer Science and Energy Studies. In MIT-speak, that’s 3A-15 with a double minor in 6-3 and ESM.
My general research interests lie around understanding manufacturing and commercialization of clean technologies needed in the energy transition. My most recent projects have focused on vulnerabilities, incentives, and interventions in battery electric vehicle material supply chains, with our paper 'Electric vehicle battery chemistry affects supply chain disruption vulnerabilities' published in Nature Communications and a second paper 'US industrial policy may reduce electric vehicle battery supply chain vulnerabilities and influence technology choice' published in Nature Energy. I’m generally interested in energy systems, industrial processes, and electric power, having previously researched decarbonization in the industrial sector as an MIT Eloranta Fellow. I am also honored to be a 2024-2025 fellow in both the Resources for the Future's Critical Minerals Research Lab as well as in the Macro Energy Systems community.
I care a lot about helping others, both on a “micro” community level and a “macro” global world problems level. I'm proud of my work in Carnegie Mellon's Graduate Student Assembly as the Vice President of Campus Affairs, advocating for graduate students in all non-academic and non-social settings (e.g. transportation, healthcare, parents and families, sustainability, dining, public art, etc.). In my undergraduate studies, I appreciate having the opportunity to lead StartLabs (MIT’s undergrad entrepreneurship club) and MacGregor House (my living community).
In the past, I’ve been selected as one of the nation’s top high school STEM students, presented at International Science Fairs, represented the United States at the National Geographic World Championships, performed as a piano soloist with the Utah Symphony and at locations like Carnegie Hall, and been recognized with a number of awards.
I also enjoy reading, creative media, blogging about the NBA, beatboxing and a cappella (having won awards for Best Vocal Percussion and Best Arrangement at the "real-life" version of Pitch Perfect), making discord bots, and other elements of the arts.
