Entered Program: 2018
Thesis Advisor: Yvonne Kapila, DDS, PhD
Graduate Advisor: Thomas Lang, PhD
I was born and raised in Macon, Georgia, where I grew up under the influence of both Southern and Persian backgrounds. I graduated in 2016 from Mercer University with a BS degree in Biology and subsequently graduated from Mercer University School of Medicine in 2018 with a MS in biomedical research. My decision to pursue dentistry was seeded by volunteer experiences which led me to realize the vast inaccessibility to dental care within central Georgia. However, my curiosity and enthusiasm for dentistry grew from appreciating the oral cavity as a unique and dynamic microbial environment.
My interests in microbial ecology and nutrition have defined and continue to define my research career. During my time at Mercer, I studied the effect of dietary fiber on the oral microbiome of mice in a collaborative project under the guidance of Dr. Ryan Jennings, Dr. Craig Byron, and Dr. Laura Suh. I am continuing my previous work at UCSF where I am studying the role of dietary fiber in shaping the oral microbiome in the context of periodontal disease under the direction of Dr. Yvonne Kapila and Dr. Sunita Ho. Outside of lab, I enjoy running, hiking, skiing, and paddle boarding. I have played piano for over 20 years and enjoy playing for friends and family. I am passionate about cooking and love to experience new cultures through food and travel.