2024-2025 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Kyla Augustine, DDS ’26
Mentor: Dr. Lance Thurlow
Title: “Impact of Diabetes on Polymicrobial Infections and Antibiotic Efficacy”
Awardee: Ysabella Gallo, DDS ’26
Mentor: Dr. Kimon Divaris
Title: “Parental Education & Childhood Oral Health Behaviors”
Awardee: Phillip Goldstein, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Little
Title: “Proteomics study identifying potential mechanisms of sex differences in musculoskeletal pain”
Awardee: Jennifer Judd, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Laura Jacox
Title: “Longitudinal Outcomes of Bone Anchored Maxillary Protraction Treatment in Class III Patients”
Awardee: Ecaterina Lungu, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Apoena Ribeiro
Title: “Impact of HIV Infection on Oral Microbiome, Oral Health and Systemic Health in Women of Reproductive Age.”
Awardee: Darius Mahboubi, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Aimin Peng
Title: “Selective Inhibition of MASTL: A High-Throughput Approach to Overcome Cancer Treatment Resistance”
Awardee: Emiri Michishita, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Apoena Ribeiro
Title: “Does oral microbiome modulation represent a promising targeted preventive therapy for dental caries?”
Awardee: Ali Morton, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Marta Musskopf
Title: “In vitro Effects of Non-Fluoride Products on Dental Materials”
Awardee: Yamini Pandrapagada, DDS ’26
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Little
Title: “Synthesizing evidence for exercise and physiotherapy interventions in reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in dentistry”
Awardee: Tina Roozbehi, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Vivia Sequeira
Title: “Influence of Operator Expertise and Scan Body Design on the Accuracy and Efficiency of Intraoral Implant Scans”
Awardee: Kathy Zhou, DDS ’26
Mentor: Dr. Takashi Komabayashi
Title: “Determining the Efficacy of Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation in Removing Tricalcium Silicate Sealer Using Micro-CT Imaging”
Awardee: Sean Ahn, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Poojan Shrestha
Title: “Genome Wide Association Study of Dental Caries in Hispanics/Latinos from HCHS/SOL Study”
Awardee: Hannah Archer, DDS ’27
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Little
Title: “Examining Reliability and Validity of Novel Authentic Assessments for Evidence-Based Dentistry”
Awardee: Riggan Ayscue, DDS ’27
Mentor: Caroline Sawicki
Title: “Psychosocial Contributions to TMD Pain in Adolescents”
Awardee: Catherine Bingham, DDS ’26
Mentor: Caroline Sawicki
Title: “Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education”
Awardee: Tang Jehan Blanton, DDS ’25
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Clark
Title: “Clinical Quality of AI Design in Removeable Appliances”
Awardee: Molina Shah, DDS ’25
Mentor: Dr. Kimon Divaris
Title: “What Influences the Caries-Preventive Efficacy of Community Water Fluoridation”
2023-2024 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Aditya Kakkar, DDS’24
Project Title: Surface deterioration of dental materials:in vitro study
Mentor: Dr. Marta Musskopf
Awardee: Angela Chen, DDS’26
Project Title: Changes in gingivitis response under stress
Mentor: Dr. Christina Graves
Awardee: Anna Zheng, DDS’26
Project Title: Effects of Mental Health and Systemic Diseases during Pregnancy on Primary Teeth Development
Mentor: Dr. Apoena Ribeiro
Awardee: Benjamin Lee, DDS’26
Project Title: Oral Health Care Experiences of Spanish-speaking Caregivers
Mentor: Dr. Kimon Divaris
Awardee: Bijian Mahboubi, DDS’25
Project Title: Evaluation of different PD-L1 variations on immune suppression
Mentor: Dr. Chengwen Li
Awardee: Courtney Garneau, DDS’26
Project Title: Effect of Ultrasound Application on Biofilm Formation in Glass Ionomer Cements
Mentor: Dr. Bert Vasconcellos
Awardee: Jackie Le, DDS’24
Project Title: The Staining Susceptibility of Printed DENTCA Teeth
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Clark
Awardee: Dariel Liakhovetski, DDS’25
Project Title: Evaluating Senior Dental Students’ Perceptions of Dental Implantology Practice-Readiness
Mentor: Dr. Antonio J. Moretti
Awardee: Jeanie Chung, DDS’25
Project Title: Evaluating Animal Assisted Therapy for Managing Pediatric Dental Anxiety
Mentor: Dr. Laura Jacox
Awardee: J.D. Boyd, DDS’25
Project Title: Micro CT evaluation using warm vertical compaction
Mentor: Dr. Takashi Komabayashi
Awardee: Jacob Hunt, DDS’25
Project Title: Periodontal Impact of Orthodontic Incisor Retraction using Skeletal Anchorage beyond a Biological Boundary
Mentor: Dr. Tung Nguyen
Awardee: Karen Zhao, DDS’24
Project Title: In Vitro Wear Resistance of Conventional, Milled and 3D-Printed Denture Teeth
Mentor: Dr. Taiseer Sulaiman
Awardee: Nikitha Lanka, DDS’25
Project Title: NC Foster Parents: Oral Health Knowledge and Barriers
Mentor: Dr. Jane Weintraub
Awardee: Valentina Roa, DDS’25
Project Title: Learner Feedback of the Pass/Fail Grading System at the Adams School of Dentistry
Mentor: Dr. Rocio Quinonez
2022-2023 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Bijan Mahboubi
Project Title: Optimization of AAV Vector Mediated Gene Transfer to Salivary Glands
Mentor: Chengwen Li
Awardee: Sylvette Ramos-Diaz
Project Title: Analysis of Efficacy of the Hispanic Oral health Prevention & Education (H.O.P.E.) Program
Mentor: Apoena Ribeiro
Awardee: Bree Smith
Project Title: Machine Learning-Based Re-Appraisal of Caregivers’ Health Literacy and Children’s Oral Health
Mentor: Jessica Lee
Awardee: Olivia Tumsuden
Project Title: Evaluating Impacts of Class III Dentofacial Disharmony and its Surgical Correction on Vowel Production
Mentor: Laura Jacox
Awardee: Nishma Vias
Project Title: Evaluation of Signature Biomarker Profiles for Periodontal Disease Subgroups
Mentor: Julie Marchesan
2021-2022 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Caroline Allbert
Project Title: Spectral Characteristics of Speech in Children with Repaired Cleft Palate
Mentor: David Zajac
Awardee: Carolyn Collins
Project Title: The Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticles
Mentor: Roland Arnold
Awardee: Mustafa Girnary
Project Title: Print Quality of Resin Patterns on Different 3D Printers
Mentor: Ingeborg De Kok
Awardee: Katherine Grant
Project Title: Evaluation of fir based on Margin Design for 3D Printed Crown Patterns
Mentor: Wendy Clark
Awardee: Kamaira Philips
Project Title: Influence of abrasive strips finishing/polishing technique on biofilm adherence in Bulk-Fill composite resins
Mentor: Apoena Ribeiro
Awardee: Neal Quinn
Project Title: Evaluation of Mechanical Strength of 3D Printed Resin Crowns
Mentor: Wendy Clark
Awardee: Davied Sanchez
Project Title: Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound for Rapid Prototyping of Skeletal Muscle
Mentor: Rishma Shah
Awardee: Jared Sobo
Project Title: New Aged Tricalcium Silicates Discoloration of Dentin
Mentor: Taseer Sulaiman
Awardee: Nishma Vias
Project Title: Characterization of Biomarker Profiles for Periodontal Disease Classes
Mentor: Julie Marchesan
Awardee: Mylan Young
Project Title: MicroRNA Profiling in Patients with External Cervical Resorption
Mentor: Rishma Shah
Awardee: Emily Nan Stalling
Project Title: Effect of Ultrasound Application on the Surface roughness of Glass Ionomer
Mentor: Bert Vasconcellos
Awardee: Arlet Montes Sanchez
Project Title: Hispanic Oral health Prevention and Education Program
Mentor: Apoena Ribeiro
Awardee: Raven Selden
Project Title: Evaluating Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Anxiety in Pediatric Dental Patients
Mentor: Laura Jacox
2019-2020 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Babak Yousefi
Project Title: Molecular Characterization of Irreversible Pulpitis
Mentor: Ashraf Fouad
Awardee: Adam Hoxie
Project Title: MicroCT as Reference for ICDA and QLF-D Activity Exams
Mentor: Apeona Ribiero
Awardee: Mustafa Girnary
Project Title: Caspase-1 Inhibition Decreases Alevolar Bone Loss
Mentor: Julie Marchesan
Awardee: Monica Kim
Project Title: Engaging Effective Student Communication Skills
Mentor: Kate Ciarrocca
Awardee: Koby Martin
Project Title: Sex Impact of Caspase-1 in Experimental Periodontitis
Mentor: Julie Marchesan
Awardee: Zachary Burke
Project Title: Prevalence and Genetic Determinants of Enamel Defects
Mentor: Kimon Divaris
Awardee: Hudson Spangler
Project Title: Real-time 3D Modeling for Chairside Patient Education
Mentor: Kimon Divaris
Awardee: Scott V. Phillips
Project Title: Determining the Biological Boundaries of Tooth Movement
Mentor: Tung Nguyen
Awardee: Colin Laprade
Project Title: Tomosynthesis Proximal Contact Imaging Study
Mentor: Angela Broome
Awardee: Pegah Khosravi-Kamrani
Project Title: Characterizing Class Ill Subtypes and Treatment Modes
Mentor: Sylvia Frazier-Bowers
Awardee: Blaine Radley
Project Title: Molecular Analysis of Tooth Eruption Disorders
Mentor: Sylvia Frazier-Bowers
Awardee: Ian R Stewart
Project Title: s-IOT and Transillumination in the Detection of Proximal Caries
Mentor: Angela Broome
2018-2019 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Hannah Randall
Project Title: Dental Fracture Detection Using Advanced Image Analysis
Mentor: Andre Mol
Awardee: Marla O’Neal
Project Title: Clinical Outcomes of Permanent Teeth Treated with SDF
Mentor: Andrea Zandona/Rick Walter
Awardee: Danielle Burgess
Project Title: Herpesviruses and Periodontitis in HIV Populations
Mentor: Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque
Awardee: Babak Yousefi
Project Title: microRNA Profiles in a Rodent Model of Pulpitis
Mentor: Asma Khan
Awardee: Nathan Yip
Project Title: Association of Endodontic Infections and Type 2 Diabetes
Mentor: Ashraf Fouad
Awardee: Ryan Gross
Project Title: YouTube: Peer Tutoring in Dental Education
Mentor: Ashraf Fouad
Awardee: Shawn Dua
Project Title: Novel Interprofessional Virtual Clinic for JIA Patients
Mentor: Shaun Matthews
Awardee: Dani Fox
Project Title: Dental Fracture Detection Using Advanced Image Analysis
Mentor: Asma Khan
2017-2018 Awardees and Mentors
Awardee: Ryan Kearney
Project Title: 10 Years of Alveolar Bone Grafting in Cleft Patients at UNC
Mentor: Rishma Shah
Awardee: Brittany Spruiell
Project Title: Craniofacial Characterization of Marfan Syndrome
Mentor: Sylvia Frazier-Bowers
Awardee: Daniel Wade Townsend
Project Title: Examination of Trends in Pediatric Dental Treatment
Mentor: Andrea Zandona
Awardee: Korry Tauber
Project Title: Development of a Word Recognition Survey to Test Orthodontic Oral Health Literacy: ORTHO-30
Mentor: Tate Jackson
Awardee: Donna Lynn Thomas
Project Title: Orthodontic Root Resorption in Short Root Anomaly
Mentor: Sylvia Frazier-Bowers
