Chenkai Weng

Chenkai Weng studies how to protect information security in data sharing, collaboration and analysis.

The emerging cybersecurity leader was first connected with computer science through information security competitions. As an undergraduate student at Xidian University in China, Weng led a student team to design and implement a system based on a searchable encryption scheme and was awarded first prize.

Searchable encryption is a novel privacy-preserving technique that allows keyword search over ciphertexts. Weng was fascinated by how advanced cryptographic techniques facilitate dynamic data protection. He was eager to learn more.

“This experience led me to switch from a telecommunications major to an information security program where I delved into the world of computer science with a specific focus on computer security,” says Weng.

He joins the School of Computing and Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, as an assistant professor in computer science and engineering.

Weng received his doctoral degree from Northwestern University. He is a past J.P. Morgan Fellow and recipient of the Northwestern Terminal Year Fellowship. His research has been accepted by numerous publications and his work on zero-knowledge proofs for circuits and polynomials was named the runner-up for best paper at the Association for Computing Machinery Conference on Computer and Communications Security. He has given invited talks at Carnegie Mellon University, Duke and Yale.

He expects to begin teaching undergraduate courses in modern cryptography and possibly graduate-level advanced topics classes. In 2025, he will look to recruit doctoral students to expand his research efforts.

With the Fulton School’s reputation for encouraging interdisciplinary and collaborative research in mind, Weng hopes to partner with colleagues on information security projects. He is also passionate about fostering industry connections and plans to continue his work with past partners including J.P. Morgan and Google. He says this is an important part of ensuring that both students and researchers are engaged in activities that can have real-world applications and impact.

Weng is excited to call ASU his new home.

“The School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence is a beacon of support for faculty in terms of research, teaching and services,” he says. “The dynamic computer security research teams in the school are a shining example in my research community.”

Meet the newest faculty members of the Fulton Schools of Engineering here.

Written by Kelly deVos