AADOCR Member-At-Large Candidate 2024-2025
Princeton University
Graduation Date: 2024
Reasons for Running
As a pre-dental student who has been involved with the AADOCR for the past 2 years and dental research for the past 3 years, I am interested in expanding the pre-dental network within the NSRG. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been involved in research at various institutions, including (i) Princeton, (ii) UPenn Dental School, (iii) Harvard Dental School, (iv) UCLA Dental School, (v) UC Berkeley Public Health, and (vi) Scripps Research Institute. During these experiences, I have formed meaningful connections with faculty, and in some cases, created a precedent for undergraduate pre-dental involvement. Therefore, I hope to use these pathways to connect other pre-dental students with research faculty and encourage collaboration.
Moreover, as founder of the Ivy League+ Pre-health Society, an organization aimed at connecting pre-health students at various institutions, I hope to also use that platform to encourage pre-dental involvement with both the AADOCR and NSRG. In taking part in various internship and conference opportunities for undergraduates, like SHPEP and the Biomedical Science Careers Program, I also hope to share these experiences and opportunities with pre-dental students.
Finally, I am applying to dual DMD/PhD programs this summer and have a strong commitment to research, diversity and inclusion, and mentorship. Over the past year, I have met with all program directors of dual degree programs in the country (to the best of my knowledge). In doing so, I have created a list of each program’s specificities, of which I also hope to share with pre-dental students to encourage consideration of a DMD/PhD.
Research Conducted
Department of Biochemistry, Daniell Lab, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine: January 2022 – Present
- Optimize plant growth and target protein expression, perform western blots and enzyme assays, and release kinetics experiments to create plant-based chewing gums for oral drug delivery to treat hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic diseases; received FDA approval (May 31, 2022) and aided with submission
Department of Geosciences, Myneni Lab, Princeton University: May 2021 – Present
- Simulate human physiological conditions to study lead and arsenic precipitation in deciduous teeth
Department of Biology, Giddon Group, Harvard School of Dental Medicine: November 2020 – August 2022
- Analyze relationships between digits and incisors as developmental patterns for both are guided by homeobox genes
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shetty Lab, University of California at Los Angeles: December 2020 – May 2022
- Studied toothbrushing habits among individuals using an electric toothbrush
Department of Periodontics, Graves Lab, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine: December 2020 – May 2021
- Analyzed periodontitis scRNAseq datasets and explored the role of dendritic cells in wound healing in mice; utilized bioinformatic software R/Seurat
Student Activities
1. Institutional Review Board, Princeton University – Consultant: 2022 – Present
2. Summer Health Professions Education Program – Diversity and Inclusion Mentor: 2022 – Present
3. Life & Family LLC – Founder of Substance Use Support Group: 2021 – Present
4. Ivy League+ Pre-health Society, Princeton University – Founder: 2020 – Present
5. Christ Church Refugee Ministry – English Tutor and Health Consultant: 2020 – Present
6. National Suicide Prevention Hotline, Mercer County – Crisis Hotline Representative: 2019 – Present
7. National Conference on Undergraduate Research – Abstract Reviewer: 2022 – 2023
8. ShareCare Awards – Digital Media Health Judge: 2022
9. Project HOME – Equity and Education Ambassador: 2022
10. Mission of Mercy – Equity and Education Ambassador: 2021 – 2022
11. Camp Kesem – Developmental Coordinator and Counselor: 2019 – 2022
Professional Memberships
1. American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research
2. American Association for Cancer Research
3. International Association for Dental Research, Iranian Division
Academic Honors
1. 2023 – 2024 American Association for Cancer Research Undergraduate Scholar Award
2. Biomedical Science Careers Program 2023 Travel Award
3. Summer Health Professions Education Program 2022 Pamies Scholarship
4. Athena Pinnacle Awards Merit Scholarship
5. Hubbard Scholarship
6. Aron Gunner Scholarship
7. Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Scholarship
Publications
1. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032195; Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023
2. doi:10.1016/j.xjep.2022.100570; Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice 2022
3. doi:10.1111/pbi.13954; Plant Biotechnology Journal 2022
4. doi:10.1016/j.xjep.2022.100524; Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice 2022
5. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121671; Biomaterials 2022
6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263638; PLoS ONE 2022
7. doi:10.3390/gels7040158; Gels 2021
8. doi:10.3390/ijms221910292; IJMS 2021
Conference Presentations
1. Society for Biomaterials, 2023
2. American Association for Cancer Research, 2023
3. New England Science Symposium, 2023
4. American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Annual Meeting, 2023
5. Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry Symposium, 2022
6. Penn Dental Medicine Research Day, 2022
7. American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Annual Meeting, 2022
8. High Meadows Environmental Institute, 2021
9. Summer Health Professions Education Program, 2021
10. Child Family Health International, 2020