1967年1月出生，汉族，籍贯山东。1993年毕业于beat365亚洲体育在线，获得博士学位，1996年起任副教授，1999年起任教授、硕导，2002年起任博导。2004年入选教育部新世纪优秀人才培养计划。2001-2003间留学法国和澳大利亚，2004年起先后担任《beat365亚洲体育在线学报》、《化学反应工程与工艺》、《管道技术与设备》、Int. J. Eng. Sys.杂志编委。
长期从事多相反应器基础理论研究，对流动与反应之间的规律, 以及参数和模型化工作有较深入研究，发明了连续相变的节能型反应器、水力旋流冷氢箱等。发表论文120余篇，其中国外发表40余篇，获得6项专利授权，部分研究成果得到工业应用。承担国家自然科学基金、教育部新世纪优秀人才计划、上海市重点基础研究项目、上海市“创新行动计划”重大基础项目、中国石化集团多项重要应用研究课题。内容涉及固定床反应器的模型与参数化、流场分布；涓流床反应器的流体力学、加氢反应器的研制与模拟计算、内构件设计；鼓泡反应器与沸腾床反应器的冷模与CFD；催化裂化再生器、乙烯裂解炉的清焦模拟、大型裂解汽油加氢装置的优化；多孔介质网络结构、颗粒界面电性质等的研究与应用。
研究方向
1.化学工程：
(1)多相催化反应器的开发、设计和理论研究。主要包括气固两相、气液两相、气液固三相的流体力学研究与反应器模型化方法，通过关键性内部构件设计进行反应器开发。
(2)化工过程的强化原理与应用。研究不同类型化工过程在传热、传质、反应方面所受局限，采用适当手段加以强化。
2.分子工程：
(1)研究分子反应工程分支，探索以绿色化学和零排放为特点的化学工艺与催化剂原理，目前以环己烯与环己醇生产过程的零排放及过程强化为工作重点。
(2)采用分子模拟手段进行多孔材料内部的分子传递与反应过程研究。
3.界面工程：
(1)研究催化材料、吸附材料、超细颗粒表面的改性方法。
(2)利用外场促进气固界面、液固界面的传质，构造阶梯界面实现难溶气体吸收等。
2. Cheng, Z. M., Ding Y.,Zhao L. Q., Yuan P. Q., Yuan W. K. “Effects of Supercritical Water in Vacuum Residue Upgrading”. Energy & Fuels, 23:3178–3183 (2009).
3. Cheng, Z. M., Zhou Z. M., Cao Y. N., Huang H. J., Yuan P. Q., Yang D., and Yuan W. K., “Simulation of an Industrial Trickle-Bed Hydrogenation Reactor in the Pulsing Flow Regime”, In. J. Eng. Sys. Model. Simu. NO.4 (2009).
4. Jin, M. and Z. M. Cheng. Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexane to Cyclohexene over Mg-V-O Catalysts. Catalysis letter, 131:266–278 (2009).
5. Jin, M., Z. M. Cheng, Y. L. Gao and X. C. Fang, “Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexane with Mg3(VO4)2 Synthesized by the Citrate Process”, Materials Letters, 632055–2058 (2009).
6. Yuan, P. Q., B. Q. Wang, Y. M. Ma, H. M. He, Z. M. Cheng, and W. K. Yuan, “Partial hydrogenation of benzene over the metallic Zn modified Ru-based catalyst”, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 309(1-2): 124-130 (2009).
7. Wu, Y., Cheng Z. M., Huang Z. B., “Back-Mixing Reduction of a Bubble Column by Interruption of the Global Liquid Circulation”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.48, 6558–6563 (2009).
12. Zhou, Z. M., Z. M.Cheng, Z. Li and W. K. Yuan, “Adsorption of Benzene and Cyclohexane on γ-Al2O3 and Pd/γ-Al2O3 at Elevated Temperature and Pressure”, Chem. Eng. J., 136: 414–418 (2008).
13. Yang, D., Z. M. Cheng, Z. M. Zhou, J. C. Zhang, and W. K. Yuan, “Pyrolysis Gasoline Hydrogenation in the Second-stage Reactor: Reaction Kinetics and Reactor Simulation”. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 47:1051-1057(2008).
14. Cheng, Z. M., X. C. Fang,Z. M. Zhou , Z. B. Huang, and W. K. Yuan, “Evaluation on the Dependence of Multiphase Flow and Reaction upon the Morphology of Porous Media Network”. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 46:8459-8470 (2007)．
15. Zhou, Z. M., Z. M. Cheng, Y.N. Cao, J. C Zhang, D. Yang, W.K. Yuan, “Kinetics of the selective hydrogenation of pyrolysis gasoline”, Chem. Eng. Technol. 30(1)：105–111 (2007).
16. Yuan, P. Q., Y. M. Ma, Z. M. Cheng, Y. A. Zhu, W. K. Yuan, “Effect of Zn2+/Zn Layer on H2 Dissociation on Ruthenium (0001) Surface: A First Principles Density Functional Study”, J. Molecular Structure: -THEOCHEM, 807 (1-3): 185-189 (2007).
17. Cheng Z M, Zhou Z M, Yuan W K. “Determination of catalyst wetting fraction on the molecular level ”, AIChE Journal, 53(3):741-745 (2007).
18. Zhao, L. Q., Z. M. Cheng, Y. Ding, P. Q. Yuan, S. X. Lu and W. K. Yuan，“Experimental Study on Vacuum Residuum Upgrading through Pyrolysis in Supercritical Water”，Energy & Fuel, 20: 2067-2071 (2006).
19. Zhou, Z. M., Z. M. Cheng, D. Yang, X. Zhou, and W. K. Yuan, “Solubility of hydrogen in pyrolysis gasoline" ，J. Chem. Eng. Data，51: 972-976 (2006).
20. Yuan, P. Q., Z. M. Cheng, X. Y. Zhang and W. K. Yuan, “Catalytic denitrogenation of hydrocarbons through partial oxidation in supercritical water”, Fuel, 85 (3): 367-373 (2006).
21. Yuan, P. Q., Z. M. Cheng, W. L. Jiang, R. Zhang and W. K. Yuan, “Catalytic desulfurization of residual oil through partial oxidation in supercritical water”, J. of Supercritical Fluids, 35(1): 70–75 (2005).
22. Zhu, Y. A., Z. J. Sui, T. J. Zhao, Y. C. Dai, Z. M. Cheng, W. K. Yuan,“ Modeling of fishbone-type carbon nanofibers: A theoretical study”, Carbon, 43 (8): 1694-1699 (2005 ).
23. Zhou, Z. M., Z. M. Cheng, W. K. Yuan，“Simulating a multiphase reactor with continuous phase transition”, Chem. Eng. Sci., 60(12): 3207-3215 (2005).
24. Fang, X. C., Z. M. Cheng, L. Huang, B. P. Han, R. H. Zeng, and W. K. Yuan, “Flooding Velocity Prediction in a Trickle Bed,” Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 31(5): 666-673 (2005) .
25. Cheng, Z. M., X. C. Fang, R. H. Zeng, B. P. Han, L. Huang, and W. K. Yuan,“Deep Removal of Sulfur and Aromatics from Diesel through Two-Stage Concurrently and Countercurrently Operated Fixed-Bed Reactors”，Chem. Eng. Sci., 59 (22-23): 5465-5472 (2004).
26. Zhou, Z. M., Z. M. Cheng, Z. Li, W. K. Yuan，“Determination of Effectiveness Factor of a Partial Internal Wetting Catalyst from Adsorption Measurement”，Chem. Eng. Sci., 59: 4305-4311 (2004).
27. Cheng, Z. M., W. K. Yuan and S. K. Bhatia, “Unconventional Operation of Three-Phase Fixed-Bed Reactors: A Perspective Trend in Reaction Engineering,” Trends in Chemical Engineering, 8 :35~59 (2003).
28. Cheng, Z. M., A. M. Anter, X. C. Fang, Q. Xiao, W. K. Yuan and S. K. Bhatia, “ Dryout Phenomena in a Three-Phase Fixed-Bed Reactor, ” AIChE Journal, 49 (1): 225-231 (2003)．
29. Cheng, Z. M., F. D. Yu, G. Grevillot, L. Luo, W. K. Yuan, and D. Tondeur, “Redistribution of adsorbed VOCs in activated carbon under electrothermal desorption, ” AIChE Journal, 48 (5): 1132-1138 (2002).
30. Cheng, Z. M., and W. K. Yuan, “ Influence of Hydrodynamic Parameters on Performance of a Multiphase Fixed-Bed Reactor under Phase Transition, ” Chem. Eng. Sci., 57 (16): 3407-3413 (2002).
31. Cheng, Z. M., A. M. Anter, and W. K. Yuan, “Intensification of Phase Transition on Multiphase Reactions, ” AIChE Journal, 47(5):1185-1192 (2001).
32. Cheng, Z. M., A, M, Anter, G. M. Khalifa, J. S. Hu, Y. C. Dai and W. K. Yuan, “An innovative reaction heat offset operation for a multiphase fixed bed reactor dealing with volatile compounds,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 56(21-22): 6025-6030 (2001).
33. Xiao, Q., Z. M. Cheng, Z. X. Jiang, A. M. Anter, and W. K. Yuan, “Hydrodynamic behavior of a trickle bed reactor under “forced” pulsing flow,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 56(3): 1189-1195 (2001).
34. Xiao, Q., A. M. Anter, Z. M. Cheng, and W. K. Yuan, “New Correlation of Dynamic Liquid Holdup in a Trickle Bed,” Chem. Eng. Journal, 78: 125-129 (2000).
35. Cheng, Z. M. and W. K. Yuan, “ Necessary Condition for Pulsing Flow Inception in a Trickle Bed,” AIChE Journal, 45(7): 1394-1400 (1999).
36. Li, Y. X., Z. M. Cheng, and W. K. Yuan, “Catalytic Oxidation of Dilute SO2 over Activated Carbon Coupled with Partial Liquid Phase Vaporization,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 54: 1571-1576 (1999).
37. Cheng, Z. M. and W. K. Yuan, “Estimating Radial Velocity of Fixed Beds with Low Tube-To-Particle Diameter Ratios,” AIChE Journal, 43(5): 1319-1324(1997).
38. Cheng, Z. M. and W. K. Yuan, “Lumped Kinetics of Fixed-Bed Reactors,” Progr. Nature Sci., 7(1): 51-57 (1997).
39. Cheng, Z. M. and W. K. Yuan, “Initial Estimation of Heat Transfer and Kinetic Parameters of a Wall Cooled Fixed-Bed Reactor,” Compt. Chem. Eng., 21(5): 511-519(1997).
40. Cheng, Z. M. and W.K. Yuan, "Simultaneous Estimation of Kinetic and Heat Transfer Parameters of a Wall-cooled Fixed-Bed Reactor," Chem. Eng. Sci., 51 (21): 4791-4800 (1996).
授权和公开专利
1.程振民，袁渭康，A.M.Anter, 胡劲松. 相变法苯加氢制备环己烷工艺.
2.程振民，袁佩青，袁渭康. 醋酸甲酯非催化水解方法.
3.陈良，程振民，黄磊. 多孔陶瓷的制备方法.
4.程振民，赖朝荣，黄子宾，程锦承. 水力旋流冷氢箱.
5.丁勇，赵立群，程振民，袁佩青，袁渭康. 一种环境友好的超临界水改质减压渣油生产轻质油的方法.
6.程振民，鞠 凡，陈建华, 等. 自吸式搅拌反应器.