National Taiwan University

Environmental Biophysics and Micrometeorology Lab.

CHENG-I HSIEH
https://www.bse.ntu.edu.tw/member/teacher/hsieh

Research Field

Natural Science-oriented Research

Introduction

I am an environmental scientist. I got my Ph.D. degree in environmental science from Duke University, USA. I teach Environmental Engineering, Micrometeorology, Environmental Biophysics, and Environmental Monitoring. I am interested in research topics related to sustainability, smart city and agriculture, and micro-meteorology. The goal of my research is to develop theoretical bases for water use efficiency of agriculture, data center cooling efficiency, solar farm design, and smart city and agriculture.

My research areas are micro-meteorology and Sustainability with emphases on 1) combining micro-meteorological techniques and machine learning algorithms for smart and sustainable cities and agriculture, 2) turbulent transport of heat, seeds, and pollutants through the biosphere-atmosphere interface. 3) developing theoretical bases of boundary layer processes for the design of green roof, green building, and urban thermal environment, 4) greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) emissions from natural, urban, and agricultural ecosystems, and 5) ecosystem’s response to future climate change.

Major instruments in my lab.: 
1. Eddy-covariance system (Ultra sonic anemometer and infrared CO2/H2O gas analyzer)
2. Micro-meteorology station
3. CO2, CO, Particulate Matters meter
4. Heat flux plate, soil moisture and temperature sensor
5. Four-component net radiometer
 


Research Topics

Water resources research and management

Solar farm and its environmental impacts

Urban heat island effect, thermal comfort, and sustainability

Surface energy balance of green roofs and cool roofs

Green house gases emissions/uptake from urban, agricultural, and natural ecosystems

Land-Atmosphere Interactions and micrometeorology  


Honor

1. Academic Award of Agricultural Engineering – by Taiwan Agricultural Engineers Society, Oct. 2025.
2. Invited Speaker in Summer Course on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 2025 "The Journey of Coffee from Seed to Cup", Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, 8 August 2025.
Title: The effect of future climate perturbations on N2O emissions from a fertilized humid grazed grassland
3. Invited Speaker by International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Webinar on Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Strategies for Resilience and Sustainability, 22 Nov. 2023. Title: Energy, Water Vapor, and CO2 Fluxes above a Subtropical Monsoon Rice Paddy


Educational Background

1. Doctor of Philosophy, May 1998, Duke University, School of the Environment, Durham, NC, USA. Major: Environment
2. Master of Science, May 1995, Duke University, School of the Environment, Durham, NC, USA. 
Major: Environment
3. Bachelor of Science, June 1993, Tunghai University, Department of Environmental Science, Taiwan. Major: Environmental Science.
 


Job Description

This intern invites students who are interested in studying land-atmosphere interactions in the context of weather and climate extremes and land use change (especially for lands changed to solar farms). 

Research will use machine learning models, climate model simulations and observations to examine the influence of vegetation and soil characteristics on high-impact events including extreme heat and humidity, drought, and pluvials.

Preferred Intern Educational Level

maser or ph.d. students

Skill sets or Qualities

ANN

fluid mechanics

programming (python, matlab)