AADOCR NSRG Councilor Candidate 2026-2027
University of Illinois Chicago
Oak Park, IL
Graduation Date: 2026
Reasons for Running
As a third-year PhD student at UIC College of Dentistry, I am deeply motivated to pursue a research career and contribute long-term to AADOCR/IADR as a future dental school faculty member. While many established PhD researchers are actively involved in AADOCR and IADR, graduate student representation on the NSRG leadership board remains limited. This gap is why I am running for NSRG Secretary—to enhance communication between dental and graduate students to promote collaboration among all members.
In my role as UIC Student Research Group Secretary, I have focused on fostering collaborative initiatives between dental and graduate students. As NSRG Midwestern Regional Representative, I strengthened connections among dental schools, facilitating partnerships and social media engagement across local chapters. These leadership experiences have given me valuable insights into how we can deepen collaborations throughout our research community.
If elected, I will not only fulfill my duties as Secretary but also actively support students in their research endeavors. I aim to introduce initiatives that foster engagement including interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaborations. By creating more opportunities for dialogue and idea exchange, we can strengthen our network and amplify our collective impact. Thank you for your consideration and support in achieving these shared goals.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
Student Activities
- NSRG Midwest Regional Representative (2024-2025): Strengthened connections and fostered collaboration among student officers and faculty advisors across local student research group chapters in the Midwest region to promote student research opportunities.
- Secretary, UIC Dental Student Research Group (Fall 2022–Present): Planned, coordinated, and promoted local SRG events.
- UIC Graduate Student Council Representative (2024-2025): Advocated for graduate student needs and helped address concerns through the UIC Graduate Student Council.
- UIC Senate Graduate Student Representative (2024-2025): Advocated for graduate students in the UIC Senate.
Research Conducted
- DMP1-Mediated Immunomodulatory and Osteogenic Changes in PDLSCs – UIC College of Dentistry in Dr. Anne George’s Lab (Fall 2022–Present): This research investigates how DMP1 influences osteogenic differentiation immune regulation in periodontal ligament stem cells to promote alveolar bone regeneration.
- Transcriptomic Changes in Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) after DMP1 Stimulation – UIC College of Dentistry in Dr. Anne George’s Lab (Fall 2021–Fall 2022): The role of DMP1 in angiogenesis was analyzed using bioinformatic analysis of total RNA and miRNA sequencing.
- Epigenetic Biomarkers for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer – UIC College of Medicine in Dr. Alicia Hulbert’s Lab (Summer 2019): Focused on using liquid biopsy for detecting promoter methylation, contributing to NSCLC diagnosis alongside low-dose CT