Meet the PI

Qiwen Dong, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

Qiwen Dong completed her undergraduate studies in biotechnology at Nankai University, China (B.S., 2012). She performed her graduate work on herpesvirus pathogenesis with Dr. Laurie Krug at Stony Brook University and obtained her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 2018. She then went on to a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Eric Pamer’s group at the University of Chicago, studying Clostridioides difficile genomics and pathogenicity. In 2023, she joined Dr. Aimee Shen’s lab at Tufts University for a second postdoctoral training, where she continued to work on C. difficile physiology and virulence. In 2025, Qiwen joined the Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology at KU Medical Center as an assistant professor. Outside the lab, Qiwen enjoys reading, solving puzzles and playing board games.

Thomas Paulus, B.S.
Research Assistant

Hello! I recently graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts., with a bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology (2025). While at Northeastern, I completed two 6-month research and drug discovery co-ops in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These two experiences led me to pursue a research career in understanding pathogenesis. In the fall of 2025, I joined the Dong Lab as a Research Assistant. Outside the lab, I enjoy going to the movies, playing tennis and doing crosswords.

Vivian Nguyen, B.A.
Graduate Student

Hi! I am a graduate student in the Dong Lab. I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in biology. Before joining KUMC, I worked in a lab where we investigated how molecules produced by the gut microbiome can modulate virulence factors of pathogens. This experience sparked my interest in the gut microbiome-pathogen interface and bacterial pathogenesis, which I am excited to continue exploring through my research in the Dong Lab. Outside of the lab, I enjoy going to the gym, reading, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with my two cats. 

Erin Dockweiler
High School Student

Hi! I am a high school senior at Shawnee Mission South and the Center for Academic Achievement. I am currently interested in studying molecular biology in college so I can become a professional researcher someday. I am so excited to develop my interests and continue the work on Clostridioides difficile in the Dong lab. Some of my hobbies outside school and the lab include dancing, baking, listening to music, and spending time with my family and friends.