Mengyi Dong

Mengyi is a postdoctoral associate who joined the David Lab in May 2023. With a background in food science and nutrition, Mengyi analyzes wastewater samples to track population dietary intake and monitor foodborne illnesses. She earned her M.S. in nutrition science from George Mason University, where she studied the dietary acculturation of senior immigrants and developed nutritionally fortified snacks to improve pregnancy outcomes within Kenya low-income communities. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mengyi completed her Ph.D in food science and human nutrition with a graduate minor in statistics. Her doctoral research focused on technology innovations within the fresh produce food safety and quality space. Outside the lab, Mengyi likes to spend time with her lovely little daughter. They usually cook, bake, make crafts, and ice-skate together.