Dr. Özlem Yilmaz Research Lab
At Medical University of South Carolina
Featured Past Lab Members
Former Graduate/Dental Students
Dr. Jaden Lee successfully obtained his DMD/PhD in May 2023 from MUSC.
Currently, he is a Resident in the Periodontics & Oral Medicine Department at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Bridgette Wellslager successfully obtained her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina in August 2024.
Bridgette is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the NIH, with NIAID. She is mostly examining host-pathogen interactions in the oral mucosa.
Dr. JoAnn Roberts successfully obtained her PhD in December 2018 from MUSC.
She became a Post-doctoral UPLIFT Fellow in UCLA and held an adjunct faculty position in Los Angeles Technical College. She is currently a Senior Associate Director | STEM Professor & Researcher | Faculty Developer at UCLA.
Kyulim Lee is a former undergraduate and DMD student at the Yilmaz Lab(University of Florida). Dr. Kyulim Lee finished her DMD/PhD degree at the University of Florida, where she later became an adjunct Assistant Professor. She continued as a resident in Pediatric Dentistry in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Kyulim Lee is currently an assistant Professor in Pediatric dentistry at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Ayana Paul, former PREP student from the Yilmaz Lab.
Currently, Ayana is pursuing a PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in Emory University, Georgia.
Dr. Ralee Spooner, a lieutenant officer in the US Navy and graduate student in Dr. Yilmaz's lab, successfully defended his Masters in Dental Sciences Degree in May 2019 at MUSC, and also completed his residency degree in MUSC's periodontics department as chief resident.
Currently, a Lieutenant and periodontist at Dental Corps, United States Navy.
Dr. Bowman earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Utah School of Dentistry in Salt Lake City.
Currently, she is a practicing periodontist focused on guided bone regeneration, treating gum disease, and placing implants.
Dr. Orellana graduated from the MUSC, where she earned her specialty Certificate in Periodontics and Implant Surgery as well as her Master of Science in Dentistry in 2024.
Currently, she is practicing at a Periodontics Specialty practice in Tampa, FL.
Former Research Specialist
Currently, a PhD Student at the University of Delaware, Department of Microbiology
Former Faculty/Postdoctoral Trainees
Dr. ChulHee Choi, PhD
Former Post-doctoral Associate and Research Assistant Professor.
He's currently a tenured Associate Professor at Chungam University in the Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, South Korea.
Dr. Kalina Atanasova, DVM PhD
Former Post-doctoral Associate.
Currently, Dr. Kalina Atanasova is a Biological Scientist in the Biological Chemistry Department of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida.
Dr. Jungnam Lee, PhD
Former Post-doctoral Fellow.
Currently, Dr. Jungnam Lee is a Research Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine at the University of Florida.
Former Post-doctoral Fellow who was an NIAID and NIDCR T32 awardee in Dr. Yilmaz lab. Brianyell was also awarded second place with the prestigious Hatton award by AADOCR.
She studied in Dr. Yilmaz lab for 3 years before she joined as a lecturer at Trident College to follow her passion in teaching. She's currently a Post-doctoral scientist and lecturer at MUSC.
Visiting Professor/Scholars
Dr. Je Chul Lee, MD PhD
Former visiting Professor
Currently, Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, South Korea
Dr. Ana Carolina Morandini Ramos, DDS PhD
Former FAPESP Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru. Universidade de São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil
She became an Assistant Professor at the University of Pacific, Arthur A. Dugani School of Dentistry. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Augusta University in Augusta, GA.