Xiang-Jin Meng

Xiang-Jin Meng, also known as X.J. Meng, is a Chinese-born American virologist. He is a university distinguished professor at Virginia Tech. He studies emerging, re-emerging and zoonotic viruses of veterinary and human public health significance. He was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2016,

Early life and education Meng grew up in Gaomi, Shandong Province, China. He originally planned to pursue a career in chemical engineering, After receiving his PhD in Immunobiology, he joined the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases as a John E. Fogarty Visiting Scientist and later as a Senior Staff Fellow He was named a university distinguished professor in 2013. From November 2021 to November 2022, Meng served as Interim Executive Director of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech.

His research mainly focuses on understanding the mechanism of virus replication and pathogenesis, defining the mechanisms of cross-species virus infection, and developing effective vaccines against emerging and zoonotic viruses. Additionally, Meng works on a number of other important viruses including Hepatitis E virus, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Torque Teno Sus Virus, and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus.

Meng has authored and co-authored more than 362 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, Meng is an inventor of more than 20 U.S. patent awards on viral vaccines and diagnostics.

Awards and honors

2024: Recipient, NIH MERIT Award. 2023: Virginia Tech Life Time Achievement Award for Innovation. 2022: Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 2018: The Inaugural Lorraine J. Hoffman Graduate Alumni Award, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. 2017: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Outstanding Faculty Award. 2016: Elected member of the National Academy of Sciences. 2013: University Distinguished Professor title, a pre-eminent and life-time title bestowed by the university Board of Visitors. 2012: Elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. 2008: Recipient, Honorary Diplomat, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. 2008: Recipient, 2008 Virginia Tech Alumni Award for Research Excellence. 2001 and 2007: Recipient, Pfizer Award for Research Excellence. 1997: Recipient, NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence. 1996: Recipient, Iowa State University’s Zaffarano Prize for Graduate Student Research Excellence.

Selected publications