AADOCR NSRG - Councilor Candidate
Reasons for Running:
I am interested in running for NSRG Councilor so that I may advocate for more diverse and equitable student recruitment strategies and funding opportunities from AADOCR and NIDCR leadership. Given my research experiences at a community college, public and private universities, and federal research institutions (NCI and NIDCR), I have considerable knowledge about the nuances of conducting research in diverse settings and would bring a unique perspective to the table.
As a first-generation community college student, I was first introduced to research when I was selected to join ReBUILDetroit, a NIH-sponsored program designed to increase the number of underrepresented students in biomedical graduate degree programs. ReBUILDetroit shaped my life, personally and professionally, for the better. Because their mission is geared toward historically minoritized groups, I was exposed to many issues of race, class, and gender in higher education and in STEM. Today, I am passionate about fostering change within the dental and research professions. As such, I am actively involved in DEI initiatives at the local and national levels. By serving in NSRG leadership as a regional representative, I have also had the pleasure of connecting with and supporting the next generation of dental, oral, and craniofacial research professionals.
If granted the opportunity to serve as NSRG Councilor, I intend to prioritize DEI issues, mentorship, and “alternative” career development opportunities. Ultimately, my aim is to be an advocate for the students I serve as well as future students in the dental, oral, and craniofacial research space.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
- DDS/PhD Candidate; University of Michigan School of Dentistry; Dr. Isabelle Lombaert; Biologic & Materials Sciences; Hdac1-Sox10 interaction in salivary gland epithelial stem cells; 01/2020 – Present
- Graduate Student Researcher (Rotation Student); University of Michigan School of Dentistry; Dr. Rogerio Castilho & Dr. Laurie McCauley; Periodontics and Oral Medicine; Macrophage localization in adenoid cystic carcinoma; 06/2019 – 12/2019
- Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow; NIDCR; Dr. Matthew Hoffman; Matrix & Morphogenesis Section; Gene therapy for radiation-damaged salivary glands; 09/2018 – 05/2019
- Introduction to Cancer Research Careers Program Student Intern; NCI; Dr. Vance Berger; Statistics; Trial quality of randomized clinical trials; 05/2018 – 08/2018
- Student Researcher; University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry; Dr. Eric Krukonis; Bacterial Pathogenesis; The roles of Ail and Pla in Yersinia pestis; 05/2016 – 05/2018
Complete list of publications:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&view_op=list_works&gmla=AJsN-F5SH9W9RRZv02TbIiqrZMwJOFu38XeVpNBnHX0FbEtZiGJ7Tp2I7xXuq_rbArSEkeZBlY3U2QweQx9DbvuHqhhH0XAjKw&user=bx5Ksy8AAAAJ
Student Activities:
- Regional Representative (Ohio Valley); American Association of Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research National Student Research Group (AADOCR NSRG); September 2021 – Present
- Outstanding Regional Representative Award Recipient
- Public Relations; International Association of Dental Research (IADR) Salivary Research Group; August 2021 – Present
- Oversee all social media platforms
- Administrator; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); July 2021 – Present
- Established and jointly run the NIDCR Trainees Slack group collaboration platform with Marsha-Kay Hutchinson, per request of the NIDCR Director Dr. Rena D’Souza
- Mentor; Profile for Success (PFS); University of Michigan School of Dentistry; Summer 2021
- Review application materials and provide support to PFS Pre-Dental Students
- Volunteer; ADEA GoDental Dental Student Testimonial Video; American Dental Education Association (ADEA); February 2021
- Video selected for publication and distribution to ADEA AADSAS 2021 dental applicants
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-Multicultural Affairs Committee (DEI-MAC); University of Michigan School of Dentistry; 2020 – Present
- Three-year appointment, appointed by Dean Laurie McCauley
- The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) STAR Network Academy Fellowship
- Award converted to pre-registration payment to attend the IADR/AADR/CADR General Session 2021 (virtual)
- Student Representative; American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DIAC); October 2019 – Present
