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| Miranda Cheng | |
|---|---|
| Name | Miranda Cheng |
| Nationality | Taiwanese-American |
| Fields | Theoretical physics, condensed matter physics, mathematics |
| Institutions | University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, Microsoft Research |
| Alma mater | Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley |
| Doctoral advisor | Xiao-Gang Wen |
| Known for | connections between string theory, topology, and condensed matter; symmetry-enriched topological phases; moonshine in physics |
Miranda Cheng
Miranda Cheng is a Taiwanese-American theoretical physicist and mathematician noted for interdisciplinary work connecting string theory, topological phases of matter, and moonshine phenomena. She has held positions at University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, and Microsoft Research, and contributed to research that bridges conformal field theory, modular forms, and emergent phenomena in condensed matter. Her work engages communities across high-energy physics, mathematics, and condensed matter physics through collaborations, seminars, and invited lectures.
Cheng was born in Taiwan and later moved to the United States for higher education, studying at institutions such as Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley. During graduate studies she worked under the supervision of Xiao-Gang Wen and engaged with research groups focused on topological order, quantum field theory, and string theory. Her doctoral training placed emphasis on connections between low-dimensional conformal field theory, algebraic structures in mathematics, and applications to condensed matter physics. Early collaborations linked her with researchers from Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University.
Cheng’s research program spans topics in theoretical physics and pure mathematics, including applications of moonshine to physical systems, classification of symmetry-protected topological phases, and the role of modular forms in counting problems. She has held academic appointments and research positions at University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, and research labs such as Microsoft Research where she interacted with groups studying quantum information, topological quantum computation, and mathematical physics. Her collaborations frequently involve researchers at Institute for Advanced Study, Perimeter Institute, and national laboratories including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Cheng has been invited to present at conferences organized by American Physical Society, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, and Simons Foundation-supported programs.
Cheng is known for elucidating novel links between algebraic moonshine phenomena and physical models of topological matter, showing how automorphic and modular form structures can classify degeneracies and symmetry actions in conformal field theory and topological order. Her work on symmetry-enriched topological phases provided frameworks that connect categorical descriptions from mathematics with lattice realizations relevant to quantum many-body physics and proposals for topological quantum computation. She contributed to understanding the role of sporadic group symmetries in physical contexts related to Monstrous Moonshine and subsequent generalizations involving other finite groups and vertex operator algebras developed in the tradition of Richard Borcherds and John Conway. Cheng’s papers have clarified how twisted partition functions, indexed by group actions, relate to protected excitations in low-dimensional systems studied in experiments at institutions like Harvard University condensed matter labs and University of California experimental groups. Her interdisciplinary synthesis has influenced subsequent work by researchers at Caltech, ETH Zurich, and University of Cambridge.
Cheng’s scholarship has been recognized by invitations to prestigious programs and lecture series, including speaking roles at meetings of the American Physical Society and panels at the International Congress of Mathematicians-adjacent workshops. She has received fellowships and research support from organizations such as the Simons Foundation, national science agencies, and research fellowships affiliated with Institute for Advanced Study programs. Her contributions have been highlighted in reviews and citation surveys within journals covering theoretical physics and mathematics.
- Cheng, M.; et al., papers on moonshine, modularity, and conformal field theory published in leading journals and proceedings associated with String Theory conferences and Mathematical Physics symposia. - Cheng, M.; coauthored works on symmetry-enriched topological phases and topological order with collaborators from condensed matter physics and mathematics departments at major universities. - Cheng, M.; articles exploring connections between vertex operator algebras, sporadic groups, and physical partition functions influenced by the work of Richard Borcherds, John Conway, and John McKay.
Category:Living people Category:Taiwanese physicists Category:Theoretical physicists Category:Mathematical physicists