AADOCR NSRG Vice-President Candidate 2027-2028
UCLA School of Dentistry
Montebello, CA
Graduation Date: 2030
Reasons for Running
Pursuing a PhD and Orthodontics at UCLA, I am committed to addressing the nationwide faculty shortage by recruiting and supporting students interested in academia and research. At UCLA, I mentor predoc students, promote research-oriented specialty pathways, and host programs that foster early engagement in academic research. I also helped organize initiatives such as the National Dental PBRN session for private practitioners and the Specialty/PhD webinar to highlight academic career pathways through NSRG.
As the Regional Representative for two years 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 immediate Gert Quigley Fellow further strengthened my advocacy for dental student research and policy engagement, including efforts to expand funding and support for future academic careers.
Recognizing that student debt remains a key barrier to the research force, I plan to organize webinars on loan repayment and funding opportunities as the current recipient of the NIH LRP Award. As Vice President, I am committed to strengthening student representation, mentorship, and engagement to build the next generation of dental researchers and educators.
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.
