Dean’s Research Scholars
We are excited to announce the D28 recipients of the 2024-2025 Dean’s Research Honors Scholarship. These seven first-year dental students are passionate in their desire to pursue research opportunities and have superior academic records coming into dental school. These students will now be choosing a faculty research mentor with whom they will meet regularly to discuss relevant publications as they work together to conceptualize and create a research proposal, perform the research, and present a research poster at TUSDM’s annual Bates-Andrews Research Day in 2026. Advancing basic science, clinical, and public health research is central to the dental school’s mission. We understand that deepening our knowledge in these areas advances the field of dentistry and ultimately leads to better patient care.
Matthew Chen
Matthew majored in neuroscience and graduated from the University of San Diego last May. Prior to starting at TUSDM, he participated in three different dental imaging projects. The first involved determining the most repeatable ultrasound imaging protocols for assessing the masseter muscle, which involved an interdisciplinary team of dentist, engineer, and statistician. He co-authored the manuscript for this project, currently under review by the journal of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology. His second project examined which of the two commonly used XPC film-positioning devices yielded a more error-free image. In his third project, he assisted with aims to address how head positioning can affect the appearance of osteophytes and degenerative joint disease on panoramic x-rays. Matthew is driven to develop innovative treatments for current oral health issues. He is particularly interested in improving the diagnosis and prognosis for common conditions affecting vulnerable and underserved communities with historically poor dental health statistics by utilizing novel technologies and techniques through the Dean’s Research Scholarship.
Annie Lee
Annie engaged in a variety of research experiences throughout her undergraduate years at Tufts University. After spending her freshman year counting red algae cells under a microscope, she worked on a mixed-methods study examining social determinants associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the Asian community. She then collaborated with upperclassmen and instructors on a study interviewing Boston stakeholders and immigrants in Somerville, MA about their COVID-19 experiences. In 2023, she traveled to Rwanda to conduct research with African Quantitative Sciences and work as a research fellow at Move Up Global (MUG), a global health non-profit. Upon returning to the U.S., she helped conduct a retrospective case series dental study managing 12 cases of bone grafting materials for alveolar ridge preservation. As a Dean’s Research Scholar, Annie aims to advance her research skills so that she can ultimately develop innovative approaches to oral health care, particularly in underserved communities, and conduct research that advances scientific understanding while having practical application in clinical settings.
Chelsea Ty
Chelsea received a BS in biopsychology from Tufts University and spent almost all her four years at Tufts conducting neurobiology and psychopharmacology research. She was involved in studies addressing alcohol withdrawal and brain mechanisms of motivation due to alcohol, as well as studying the effect of the AM6527 cannabinoid CB1 antagonist. Her overall goal for conducting research at TUSDM as a Dean’s Research Scholar is to be fully prepared for dentistry beyond the clinical setting. It will underscore her commitment to advocating for others, educating, and mentoring as she prepares to be a lifelong learner and leader in the field.
Jasmin Sabah
Jasmin’s research experience began during her freshman year at Brandeis University, where she pursued memory and cognition research alongside her double major BS degree in neuroscience and biology. The research mainly dealt with identifying and testing correlations between pupillometry and word-sentence recognition and recall. After graduation, Jasmin joined Dr. Athena Papas’ research team at TUSDM as a clinical research coordinator. She actively participated in all facets of dental and medical research which allowed her to experience first-hand the rewards, challenges, and obstacles that are a part of conducting research. Jasmin knows that research not only serves us and our communities but implements positive change to set up future generations of health care professionals and patients for success. She is looking forward to becoming the most well-rounded dentist she can be through her participation in the Dean’s Research Scholarship.
Mehak Sidhu
During Mehak’s undergraduate education at Indiana University – Northwest, she conducted environmental microbiology research, tracking antibiotic resistance in Lake Michigan tributaries. At TUSDM, she is interested in exploring the intersection of microbiology and oral health. She is curious about how microbial communities in the oral cavity contribute to oral health outcomes and hopes to contribute to advancements in this area in order to improve preventative strategies and therapeutic interventions.
Nikaela Walker
As a college student at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada, Nikaela worked in a molecular plant biology lab, where her research focused on systemic disease resistance, and she explored the mechanisms by which plants defend themselves against pathogens. She also was awarded a prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC USRA) which recognized her dedication and potential in research. As a part of the Dean’s Research Scholarship program, Nikaela aspires to contribute to the understanding of oral diseases and their systemic implications, particularly in vulnerable populations such as pregnant individuals.