Hualiang Pi

Hualiang Pi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at Yale School of Medicine and a member of the Yale Microbial Sciences Institute. She obtained her PhD in Microbiology from Cornell University and completed postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her lab investigates microbial stress defense mechanisms in bacterial pathogens like Clostridioides difficile, focusing on iron homeostasis, bacterial organelle (ferrosome) formation, and host-pathogen interactions using genetics, biochemistry, and advanced imaging techniques.

Research interests include bacterial infections, iron physiology, organelle biogenesis, and stress adaptation. Her work has revealed novel insights into how pathogens combat host nutritional immunity and adapt to environmental challenges.

Publications emphasize bacterial stress responses, iron regulation, and molecular pathogenesis. Recent articles explore ferrosome biogenesis, sigma factor roles in biofilm formation, and RNA-binding proteins in post-transcriptional modulation. Trends show consistent focus on metal homeostasis and infection mechanisms.

Awards & Honors:

• NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
• NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2)
• Searle Scholar (2025)

She advises PhD students Kristina Ferrara and Kate Matej and leads the Pi Lab at Yale’s Advanced Biosciences Center. The lab collaborates with the Microbial Sciences Institute to study bacterial organelle assembly and infection dynamics. Major funding includes NIH grants and the Searle Scholars Program.