AADOCR NSRG Secretary Candidate 2027-2028
University of California of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Graduation Date: 2032
Reasons for Running
Hello! I’m Belmaliz, a second-year DDS/PhD student at UCSF. As a proud Puerto Rican in STEM, I aspire to pursue a dental research career that integrates patient care with a deeper understanding of oral conditions through basic science.
At the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, I created the “SEMI Educa” Program, which reached students from elementary to high school to promote oral health, microbiology, and COVID-19 awareness. Witnessing their enthusiasm reinforced my belief in the power of education to inspire future scientists. My research in Mycology and Extremophile labs further deepened my curiosity and commitment to discovery.
After graduation, I joined the NIH/NIDCR as a postbaccalaureate fellow, where I discovered my passion for oral immunology while studying periodontitis. This experience shaped my path toward becoming a clinician, educator, and researcher dedicated to advancing oral health.
As the current NSRG Pacific Regional Representative, I have strengthened collaboration among dental student chapters and mentored predental students pursuing research. If elected Secretary, I will continue fostering academic growth, empowering future dental researchers, and promoting scientific curiosity that bridges clinical practice and research for improved patient care.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
Student Activities
NSRG Pacific Regional Representative (Fall 2025- present): Outreach to different chapters and motivate dental students and pre-dental students for research
National Honor Biology Association (NHBA) UPRM chapter, invited speaker, “Journey to DDS/PhD”(2025): Encourage students about dental research and opportunities with the NIH/NIDCR postbac and DDS/PhD programs
Founder of “SEMI Educa” Program (Industrial Microbiology Student Society Educates Program) (Fall 2021–Summer 2022): Created a program for groups of undergrads to give talks about Microbiology, COVID and Dental hygiene in an interactive way to schools. I got to contact school, organize groups and give talks.
Vice-president of the Student Society of Industrial Microbiology (SIMS)(Fall 2021- Summer 2022): Encourage undergrads about STEM and its career opportunities by organizing seminars and activities
Research Conducted
Characterizing fibroblasts in oral gingiva using Periodontitis mouse model –Postbac fellow, NIH/NIDCR, (Summer 2022–Summer 2024): During my postbac fellowship I got to work with an amazing group of dental researchers led by Dr. Niki Moutsopoulos where I got to learn and study about the fibroblasts and other immune cells in the oral gingiva in Periodontitis.
