Dr. Yan Wang Selected for Prestigious AADOCR Research Cohort

Dr. Yan Wang
Dr. Wang's expertise lies in the domains of survey construction, sampling algorithms, and the utilization of data science as well as machine learning methodologies.
September 8, 2023

Yan Wang, Ph.D., an assistant adjunct professor in the UCLA School of Dentistry’s Section of Public and Population Health, has been selected as one of only ten nationwide mentees in the fourth cohort of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research’s (AADOCR) Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Workforce of the Future (AADOCR MIND the Future) program.

In addition, Associate Professor in the Section of Prosthodontics Dr. Alireza Moshaverinia will serve as a mentor in this dynamic initiative that aims to establish an all-encompassing community of researchers whose involvement is crucial for propelling dental, oral, and craniofacial research forward, while enhancing the oral health landscape of our nation. With each cohort member receiving funding for the duration of their five-year grant period, MIND the Future will furnish a range of educational activities and interactive opportunities throughout the network, fostering engagement between mentors and mentees, all geared towards cultivating a diverse cohort of dental, oral, and craniofacial research professionals.

“The MIND program offers a wealth of resources that will facilitate my transition from K01 to R01 and eventually achieve research independence,” said Dr. Wang, whose direct mentor in the program will be Dr. David Drake from the University of Iowa.

“The program will also extend my network of research collaborators and develop my skills and knowledge in promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in both research and mentorship.”

Earning a full-time faculty appointment earlier this year, Dr. Wang's expertise lies in the domains of survey construction, sampling algorithms, and the utilization of data science as well as machine learning methodologies.

She is leading a study on the oral microbiome of Kenyan children and adolescents who have been living with HIV and have undergone antiretroviral therapy (ART) for over a decade. Notably, she received a 2023 UCLA CHIPTS mentored grant, which supports her investigation into the resilience levels of young individuals coping with HIV in the informal settlements of Nairobi. She also recently secured a five-year K01 award from the NIH/NIDCR to study the longitudinal oral microbiome of children from birth to three years old.

Dr. Yang holds a Ph.D. in biostatistics from UCLA and a B.S. in mathematics and computer science from Beijing Normal University. She completed two NIH postdoctoral fellowships, one at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, and the other at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.