CV

Education

• University of Cambridge, Department of Psychology Cambridge, UK
  • PhD in Biological Science (Psychology) 10/2025 – present
    • Concentration: EEG Language Neurotechnology, BCI for Language Disorders, Dyslexia and DLD Neurotech
• University of Cambridge, Department of Psychology Cambridge, UK
  • MPhil in Biological Science (Psychology) 10/2021 – 02/2023
    • Concentration: Neuroimaging data processing, Psycholinguistics, Natural Language Processing
    • Dissertation: The modification of high‑level attentional processing in bilingualism
• Tongji University, College of Electronics and Information Engineering Shanghai, CN
  • B.E. Computer Science and Technology 09/2016 ‑ 06/2020
    • Concentration: Machine Learning, Brain‑Computer Interface (BCI)
    • Coursework: Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, Algorithm Analysis and Design, Database Systems, Data Structures, Wed Technology, Operating System
    • Dissertation: Motor Imagery Brain Computer Interface based on Transfer Learning (Awarded Excellent Thesis, Tongji University)

Research Experience

• 11/2023 – present: Research Assistant
  • Centre for Neuroscience in Education, University of Cambridge
  • Research Topic: Computational EEG and speech modeling for Developmental Dyslexia and Developmental Language Disorder.
  • Responsibility: model construction; data collection with children; Paper writing
  • Supervisor: Prof. Usha Goswami
• 11/2022 – 10/2023: Research Assistant
  • Computational and Biological Learning Lab, University of Cambridge
  • Research Topic: Temporal regularity of chronic pain
  • Responsibility: Experiment design and conduction; Data analysis; Model construction (fMRI, behavioral data); Paper writing
  • Additional work: Provide forms of mentorship to MRes students; Patient and public involvement
  • Supervisor: Dr. Flavia Mancini
• 10/2021 – 10/2022: MPhil Student
  • Brain, Language and Bilingualism Lab, University of Cambridge
  • Research Topic: The modification of high‑level attentional processing in bilingualism.
  • Responsibility: Data processing, Algorithm design, Data analysis, Thesis writing
  • Supervisor: Dr. Mirjana Bozic
• 03/2019 ‑ 03/2021: Research Student
  • Brain Cognition and Computation Laboratory, Tongji University
  • Research Topic:
    • Multiple session classification of EEG signals based on Transfer Learning and Common Spatial Pattern
    • Pattern analysis of ERP feature of Chinese vocabulary processing under TMS
    • Stroke recovery based on body ownership BCI system in Virtual Reality
  • Responsibility: EEG data collection and preprocessing, Algorithm implementation, Model verification, Software development
  • Supervisor: Dr. Jie Li and Prof. Jie Zhuang

Publications

Zero-Shot Learning for EEG Classification in Motor Imagery-Based BCI System

Duan, L., Li, J., Ji, H., Pang, Z., Zheng, X., Lu, R., Li, M., & Zhuang, J. (2020). Zero-Shot Learning for EEG Classification in Motor Imagery-Based BCI System. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 28(11), 2411–2419. https://doi.org/10.1109/tnsre.2020.3027004

Task Transfer Learning for EEG Classification in Motor Imagery‐Based BCI System

Zheng, X., Li, J., Ji, H., Duan, L., Li, M., Pang, Z., Zhuang, J., Rongrong, L., & Tianhao, G. (2020). Task Transfer Learning for EEG Classification in Motor Imagery-Based BCI System. Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine, 2020, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6056383

Psychopy based Continuous Pain Monitoring Task

Zheng, X., Rajwal, S., Ho, S. Y. S., Ashworth, C., Seymour, B., Shenker, N., & Mancini, F. (2024). Psychopy based Continuous Pain Monitoring Task (1.0.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13754802

Short-term variability of chronic musculoskeletal pain

Zheng, X., Rajwal, S., Ashworth, C., Ho, S. Y. S., Seymour, B., Shenker, N., & Mancini, F. (2025). Short-term variability of chronic musculoskeletal pain. Frontiers in Pain Research, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2025.1626589

Word selection, concreteness and brain lateralization

Zhao, J., Zhao, Y., Zheng, X., Wang, X., Ning, Z., Chen, Y., Ji, H., Li, J., & Zhuang, J. (2025). Word selection, concreteness and brain lateralization. Brain and Language, 272, 105659–105659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2025.105659

Towards a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for Improving Phonological Processing in Developmental Dyslexia: An Exploratory Study

Zheng, X., Araújo, J., Busson, Q., & Goswami, U. (2026). Towards a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for Improving Phonological Processing in Developmental Dyslexia: An Exploratory Study. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.23.700941

Atypical cortical encoding of the low-frequency temporal dynamics of natural speech identifies children with Developmental Language Disorder

Zheng, X., Araújo, J., Keshavarzi, M., Feltham, G., Richards, S., Parvez, L., & Goswami, U. (2026). Atypical cortical encoding of the low-frequency temporal dynamics of natural speech identifies children with Developmental Language Disorder. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.08.710292

Talks

The modification of high-level attentional processing in bilingualism

September 08, 2022

Presentation at Architectures and Mechanisms for Language Processing, University of York, UK

Towards a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for Improving Phonological Processing in Developmental Dyslexia: An Exploratory Study

July 16, 2026

Presentation at Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR), Rotterdam, Netherlands

Skills

• Research Interest
  • Brain‑Computer Interface, Computational Neuroscience, Psycholinguistic, Machine Learning
• Programming
  • (Proficient) Python, MATLAB, C++, JavaScript, HTML/CSS; (Familiar)R, SQL, Java
• Miscellaneous
  • Linux, $\LaTeX$, Git.
• Frameworks and Tools
  • Machine learning frameworks: Keras, PyTorch, scikit‑learn, Stan
  • Psychology and neuroimaging toolbox: MNE-python, EEGLAB, E‑Prime, Psychopy, Prolific, Qualtrics
  • Website framework: Django, bootstrap, jQuery, wordpress

Achievements

• 2020 The First Prize, Excellent Graduate of Tongji University China
• 2020 The First Prize, Excellent thesis for graduating student of Tongji University China
• 2019 The First Prize, The Challenge Cup‑2019 of Tongji University China
• 2018 The First Prize, Tongji Scholarship for Social Practice China
• 2018 The Third Prize, CUMCM (Contemporary Undergraduate Mathematical Contest in Modeling) of Shanghai China
• 2017 The Third Prize, Tongji Scholarship of Excellence China

Interests

• Music
  • member of Cambridge Graduate Orchestra
  • member of Cambridge University Wind Orchestra
  • member of Orchestra of Tongji University
• Sports
  • member of Hughes Hall Table Tennis 2nd team
• Docent
  • Volunteer docent in Shanghai LuXun Museum