George Cheng

Postdoctoral Researcher,

E-mail

My research focuses on the exploration of microbial communities in biogas systems, utilizing molecular and bioinformatic techniques to investigate organisms involved in acetate metabolism, including acetogens and syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacteria (SAOBs).

Teaching

Genetics, cell biology and microbiology- BI1278
(Autumn 2021, 2022)

Microbiology- BI1337
(Spring 2021, 2022)

Educational credentials

PhD in Biology with specialisation in biotechnology
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
(January 2020- September 2024)

MSc in Biology- Ecology and Conservation
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
(August 2017- June 2019)

BSc in Liberal Arts and Sciences- Integrative Biology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
(August 2011- June 2015)

Publications

Cheng, G., Gabler, F., Pizzul, L., Olsson, H., Nordberg, Å. & Schnürer, A. (2022). Microbial community development during syngas methanation in a trickle bed reactor with various nutrient sources. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 106 (13), 5317–5333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-022-12035-5

Cheng, G., Westerholm, M. & Schnürer, A. (2024). Complete genome sequence of Citroniella saccharovorans DSM 29873, isolated from human fecal sample. Microbiology Resource Announcements, 13 (4), e0001524. https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00015-24

Cheng, G.B., Bongcam-Rudloff, E. & Schnürer, A. (2025). Metagenomic Exploration Uncovers Several Novel ‘Candidatus’ Species Involved in Acetate Metabolism in High-Ammonia Thermophilic Biogas Processes. Microbial Biotechnology, 18 (3), e70133. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.70133

Cheng, G., Schnürer, A. & Westerholm, M. (2025). Microaceticoccus formicicus gen. nov., sp. nov., an ammonia-tolerant formate-utilizing bacterium originating from a biogas process. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 75 (5), 006773. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006773