M. T. Cheng

M. T. Cheng or Cheng Minde (Chinese: 程民德; Pinyin: Chéng Míndé; 1917–1998) was a Chinese mathematician. Cheng was the main founder of Peking University Mathematical Research Institute, and longtime head of the Department of Mathematics of Peking University.

Cheng was born 24 Jan 1917 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. His father Cheng Zhanlu (Chinese: 程瞻庐) was a notable novelist.

In 1935, Cheng became a student of the Department of Electrical Engineering of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou. Due to Su Buqing's advice, Cheng later transferred into the Department of Mathematics. Cheng graduated BS and MS (in autumn 1942).

From 1942 to 1943, Cheng took his internship as an electrical engineer in a factory in Chongqing, the war-time capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

From 1943 to 1946, Cheng was a lecturer at the Department of Mathematics of Zhejiang University. From 1946 to 1947, Cheng lectured at the mathematical department of Peking University.

In 1947, Cheng went to USA to continue his study at Princeton University. His doctoral advisor was Salomon Bochner. Cheng earned his PhD in 1949, and did his postdoctoral research at Princeton till Jan 1950.

Cheng went back to China. From Jan 1951 to 1952, Cheng was an associate professor and later professor at the Department of Mathematics of Tsinghua University. Since 1952, Cheng was a professor at the Department of Mathematics of Peking University. From 1978 to 1988, Cheng was the Director of the Mathematical Research Institute of Peking University.

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