AADOCR NSRG Vice-President Candidate 2027-2028
UCLA School of Dentistry
Montebello, CA
Graduation Date: 2030
Reasons for Running
Stepping into the VP role reflects a continuation of the work I value most: supporting dental students, offering career advising and research mentorship, and facilitating access to financial resources such as the loan-repayment program, as I am a current NIH LRP awardee. Pursuing a PhD and Orthodontics at UCLA, I mentor predoc students, encourage research-focused specialty pathways, and lead programs that spark research interest. I also organized initiatives such as the Dental PBRN session for private practitioners and the NSRG Specialty/PhD webinar through NSRG, which highlighted diverse journeys into academic careers.
As the NSRG Regional Representative during dental school, NSRG was where I first felt part of a community that truly celebrated dental research. Through AADOCR meetings, I connected with students who shared the same drive to integrate research with clinical care. My experience as the Gert-Quigley Fellow further strengthened my advocacy for student research and policy, including efforts to expand opportunities for student researchers.
If elected VP, I will continue to be someone students can rely on, regardless of title, as I remain committed to being an active, present member of the NSRG community and to uplifting the next generation of dental researchers and clinicians.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
My research integrates bioengineering, biomaterials science, and immunomodulation to develop next-generation regenerative therapies for craniofacial tissues. My current work focuses on engineering dynamic hydrogels that can deliver stem-cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in a controlled and localized manner to promote skeletal muscle and skin regeneration. By fine-tuning the hydrogel’s mechanical and chemical responsiveness, I aim to optimize EV release kinetics and modulate immune responses that drive tissue healing.
Previously, I developed icariin-releasing 3D-printed scaffolds for cleft bone regeneration and designed spatiotemporal drug delivery systems using 3D-printed hydrogel composites. Together, these experiences have shaped my long-term goal of advancing immunoengineering-based regenerative strategies that can be applied to oral and craniofacial defects, such as temporomandibular joint and alveolar bone disorders.
As a specialty-scientist in the making, I hope to bridge the gap between fundamental biomaterials science and clinical dentistry, creating biologically responsive systems that precisely regulate the immune microenvironment to accelerate repair, reduce inflammation, and improve functional outcomes in dental and orofacial reconstruction. My vision is to contribute to a new generation of biomaterial-guided immunotherapies that redefine tissue regeneration in dental medicine.
