He received his doctorate degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the Florida State University in 2011 under the supervision of Geoffrey F. Strouse. His graduate work focused on developing a fundamental understanding of the magnetic properties of transition metal ion-doped semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). In 2012, he joined the Emory University as a postdoctoral fellow to work with Khalid Salaita on the properties of hybrid organic/inorganic interfaces and biological applications of semiconductor nanocrystals. Zheng began his current appointment at Syracuse University in 2015.