Dr. Qiaochu Liang completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia in 2023, where she investigated how enteric bacterial pathogens overcome nutrient limitations imposed by the host and gut microbiota, to successfully infect the intestinal mucosal surface. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bruce Vallance's lab, where she is unraveling the mechanisms controlling intestinal barrier functions with particular emphasis on the interplay between goblet cells, mucus, microbes, and host immunity in intestinal health and diseases. Her research leverages advanced mouse models and in vitro systems, including gnotobiotic mice and organoids platforms, to model host mucosal responses to microbial stimuli. Ultimately, Qiaochu aims to develop predictive tools and targeted therapies that can improve outcomes for patients living with GI diseases where mucosal barrier defects play a central role, such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease.