AADOCR NSRG - Graduate Student Representative Candidate
In my opinion, the graduate student's experience hinges on two key elements: cultivating community and finding the right mentors. As a fourth year DDS/Ph.D. Candidate, my personal and professional growth benefited significantly from the invaluable support network I've had. Contributing to this community, I led the University of Michigan Oral Health Sciences Student Association (MOHSSA) as Vice-President and President, offering leadership and organizational assistance to students in various stages of dental and graduate education.
Based on these experiences, I would like to serve as the NSRG Graduate Student Representative. I intend to organize workshops for current and prospective dental and graduate students, focusing on creating national-level communities and identifying mentors aligned with their goals. These workshops, led by both early-stage and experienced dental researchers, aim to provide insights for navigating careers in dental academia and research.
Additionally, I propose NSRG workshops concentrating on pivotal milestones for dental and graduate students, including selecting research labs, preparing for research competitions, applying for research awards and grant writing. These sessions aim to foster a stronger sense of community, especially among students in dental schools with smaller research programs, potentially increasing nationwide engagement in dental research.
Student Activities/ Leadership Positions:
- OHS Ph.D. Program Student Ally (10/2023 - Present): Work with local organizations with DEI focus to promote and provide information to students interested in oral health research.
-OHS Ph.D. Program Student Representative (09/2023 - Present): Liaison between the OHS PhD and master students and the OHS Program Committee.
-Vice-President and then President of the UofM SoD MOHSSA (2021-2023): Organized monthly meetings and gatherings for OHS PhD and master students.
-Undergraduate Research Mentor (2021-Present): Primary research mentor to three undergraduate students.
Research Conducted:
- DDS/Ph.D. Candidate, Laboratory of Dr. Yu Leo Lei, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine
Project: Intercepting the Evolution of Pro-Tumoral Myeloid Cells During the Initiation of Oral Cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/hulya.taner.1/bibliography/public/
- Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. Niki Moutsopoulos, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); Oral Immunity of Infection Section
Project: Identify Novel Transcriptomic Signatures in IL17-Producing Immune Cells in Health and Disease.
- AMGEN Research Scholar, Laboratory of Dr. Thomas Bugge, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); Proteases & Tissue Remodeling Section
Project: Elucidate Consequences of Neutrophil-Fibrin Engagement During Wound Healing
