Current COSTAR Trainees
Mariam Begum
Training Track
Current PhD COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
7/24/2025
Mentor/Lab
Bibhuti B. Mishra, PhD
Topic of Research Project
Transcriptional gatekeeping of macrophage response in helminth infection: Implication in Sjögren’s syndrome
Jake Moore
Training Track
Current PhD COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
9/24/25
Mentor/Lab
Katsumi Kitagawa, Pharm D, PhD
Topic of Research Project
Loss of STK11 Drives Whole Genome Doubling through Dysregulation of the Surviving Pathway
Jaclyn Merlo
Training Track
Current PhD COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
7/23/25
Mentor/Lab
Shivani Ruparel, PhD
Topic of Research Project
Contribution of Lymphotoxin-Beta Receptor Signaling in Oral Cancer Pain
Jessie Alfaro
Training Track
Current DDS/PhD COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
7/22/25
Mentor/Lab
Armen Akopian, PhD
Topic of Research Project
Characterization of Trigeminal Sensory Neurons Innervating the Temporomandibular Joint
Sara Gaiser
Training Track
Current DDS/PhD COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
7/22/25
Mentor/Lab
David Kadosh, PhD
Topic of Research Project
Translational Regulation of Candida albicans Stress and Filamentation Responses by Asc1 and eIF4E-binding Proteins
Stephen Hernandez
Training Track
Current DDS/PhD COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
2/24/25
Mentor/Lab
Nikita Ruparel, DDS, PhD
Topic of Research Project
Prolactin: A Sexual Dimorphic Mediator of Apical Periodontitis
Jorge De La Chapa
Training Track
Current Postdoc COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
8/24/25
Mentor/Lab
Cara Gonzales, DDS, PhD
Topic of Research Project
CIDD150228- A potent Ca2+ Disruptor that Mediates Oxidative Phosphorylation and EMT in Oral Cancer
Razina Vohra
Training Track
Current Postdoc COSTAR Trainee
Start date with COSTAR
8/23/25
Mentor/Lab
Asma Khan, PhD, BDS, FICD
Topic of Research Project
Development of CBCT-based biomarkers to improve prognostic accuracy of external cervical resorption in teeth