Mengyi Dong

Overview

I hold a 45% Research / 45% Extension / 10% Teaching appointment at the Virginia Seafood AREC, with tenure home in Food Science & Technology. My position helps Virginia’s seafood processors and aquaculture producers deliver safe, high-quality products. My group develops molecular tools and data-driven controls to reduce pathogen and spoilage risks from farming through processing and translates results into practical guidance for industry, regulators, and coastal communities. I also mentor graduate students, guest-lecture, and develop public-facing programs that build workforce capacity in molecular microbiology, food safety and quality, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

Research & Extension

• Rapid pathogen surveillance: Develop and validate multiplex PCR and targeted sequencing assays for priority pathogens and indicators in water, biofilms, and seafood tissues; implement sampling plans and QA/QC; provide HACCP/FSMA-aligned SOPs and processor training.
• Microbiome & mycobiome insights for quality and safety: Profile bacterial and fungal communities to detect early spoilage, safety, and disease signatures; develop and evaluate protective cultures and clean-label antimicrobials to enhance product quality; translate results into practical guidance for industry.
• Data-driven process monitoring & decision tools: Combine sensors/spectroscopy with machine-learning models to monitor and optimize processes, and to predict shelf life and quality; deliver risk dashboards, decision trees, and cost-benefit tools to support adoption and compliance.
• eDNA & DNA-metabarcoding environmental observation: Develop eDNA/metabarcoding surveys and environmental sampling approaches; provide dashboards, advisories, and best-practice guidance for biodiversity and invasive-species surveillance; establish and maintain a Virginia seafood DNA reference library to support authentication and public education.