Our mission is to understand mosquito biology and develop genetic tools that reduce mosquito-borne disease transmission.
The Weng Lab studies mosquito sex determination, reproduction, and virus susceptibility, with a focus on Aedes aegypti.
Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit dengue, Zika, and yellow fever because they blood-feed to support egg production. Male mosquitoes do not bite and do not transmit these viruses.
Our central question is both genetic and practical: which molecular changes can reduce the female mosquito's ability to transmit virus while preserving ecological and regulatory feasibility?
We address this question through four connected areas: sex determination, virus-host interaction, genetic tools for vector control, and reproductive biology.
The lab is housed in the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology at NTU, a department with a 125-year continuous lineage in tropical medicine.
We connect mosquito sex determination, virus-host interactions, vector-control genetics, and reproductive biology. Together, these projects build a practical foundation for reducing mosquito-borne disease.
We develop sex-specific genetic markers that separate male and female larvae at early stages. This improves the workflow for sterile-male and other release-based vector-control strategies.
Why it matters. Earlier sex separation improves the quality and scalability of male-release mosquito control programs.
Key papers. PLOS Genetics (2023); Infectious Diseases of Poverty (2024).
We identify mosquito proteins and physiological pathways that dengue, Zika, and related flaviviruses use during infection. Current work focuses on SUMO machinery, BiP, salivary proteins, blood glucose, and the ecdysone receptor.
Why it matters. Identifying host factors reveals mosquito-specific targets that may reduce virus transmission.
Key papers. Frontiers in Microbiology (2022); Parasites & Vectors (2026); Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2023, 2019); Parasites & Vectors (2021).
We design genetic circuits and virus-responsive systems that reduce mosquito competence for pathogen transmission. These tools include antiviral effectors, sex-selection systems, and gene-drive concepts.
Why it matters. Genetic tools can make vector control more targeted than broad-spectrum insecticide approaches.
Key papers. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2022); Infectious Diseases of Poverty (2024); Trends in Parasitology (2024).
We study pathways that control vitellogenesis, egg production, and female fertility. These pathways can reveal targeted strategies for reducing mosquito population growth and virus transmission.
Why it matters. Understanding fertility pathways helps identify precise ways to reduce mosquito population growth.
Key papers. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2018); Insect Molecular Biology (2020); Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2015).
This list is updated automatically from the CV. Full bibliography: Google Scholar and ORCID.
Updated automatically from the CV · Last checked: September 2026
Weng SC, Hsu YC, Tsao PN, Shiao SH
Chen CW, Liao WT, Chao T, Chen YH, Weng SC, Shiao SH, Kao CY, Li YJ, et al.
Weng SC, Lin YS, Tsao PN, Shiao SH
Goldman OV, DeFoe AE, Qi Y, Jiao Y, Weng SC, Wick B, Houri-Zeevi L, Lakhiani P, et al.
Charara S, Choy J, Cauwenberghs K, Vijayakumar P, Ng R, Kim KY, Weng SC, Akbari OS, et al.
Weng SC, Chen F, Li M, Lee S, Gerry C, Turksoy DC, Akbari OS
Weng SC, Masri RA, Akbari OS
Weng SC, Antoshechkin I, Marois E, Akbari OS
Lin DCD, Weng SC, Tsao PN, Chu JJH, Shiao SH
Yeh CT, Weng SC, Tsao PN, Shiao SH
Weng SC, Shiao SH
Weng SC, Zhou YX, Shiao SH
We are building a focused research group with close mentorship, clear project ownership, and shared technical support.
Shih-Che Weng trained in microbiology at NTU (PhD '20, MS '13) and completed postdoctoral work at the Akbari Lab, UC San Diego (2021-2025). His research connects mosquito vector biology, genetics, and synthetic biology for translational vector control. He returned to NTU as Assistant Professor in February 2025 to establish the lab.
Studies alternative splicing readouts in Aedes aegypti sex determination.
Develops inducible antiviral expression systems for flavivirus suppression.
Supports mosquito husbandry, transgenic line maintenance, and CRISPR microinjection.
This study examines how AaEcR links dengue virus replication with reproductive biology in Aedes aegypti.
Welcome Yu-Chen and Ho-An. The lab is expanding work on antiviral circuits and microinjection workflows.
Shih-Che was awarded the Yushan Young Fellow from Taiwan's Ministry of Education.
A single-nucleus atlas of adult Aedes aegypti was published in Cell.
A study on mosquito CO2-sensing olfactory receptor neurons was published in PNAS.
The lab received the 2030 Cross-Generation Emerging Young Scholar grant from NSTC.
The lab opens. Shih-Che joins NTU College of Medicine as Assistant Professor.
Current and completed funding supporting mosquito genetics, vector biology, and synthetic biocontrol research in the Weng Lab.
Updated automatically from the CV · Last checked: September 2026
MOE · MOE-114-YSFMN-0003-005-P1
Principal Investigator · 2026-2031
NTU · NTU-115L7865
Principal Investigator · 2026-2028
NTU · NTU-SPIR-115L8414
Chief PI · 2026
NSTC · NSTC 114-2628-B-002-028
Principal Investigator · 2025-2029
NTU · NTU-113G9901-002
Principal Investigator · 2025-2028
NTU · NTU-RPG-114L7369; NTU-RPG-115L7315
Principal Investigator · 2025-2026
NTU · NTU-NFG-114L7490
Principal Investigator · 2025
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We welcome postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, research assistants, visiting scholars, and undergraduate students.
We are especially interested in people with backgrounds or strong interests in genetics, virology, or synthetic biology. Bioinformatics and modeling experience are welcome but not required.
Funding is in place for all open positions. International applicants are warmly encouraged; please contact us to discuss available projects.
Please include a CV, a brief research statement, and your expected start date when you contact us.