PhD students and recent graduates
Current students
Zeina Al Naasan
Topic: Improving self-performed oral health - a digital technology
Supervisors: Professor Jonathan Broadbent, Dr Ella Iosua (Biostatistics Centre, UO), Professor Warwick Duncan, Professor Andrew Tawse-Smith, Dr Hamza Bennani
Commenced 2025 (part-time, academic staff)
Email alnze169@student.otago.ac.nz
Ghsaq Alhamdani
Topic: Novel Mānuka oil antibacterial membranes to promote bone regeneration
Supervisors: Professor Dawn Coates, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li, Dr Dina Abdelmoneim, Professor Warwick Duncan, Professor Natalie Hughes (Pharmacy, UO)
Commenced 2023
Email alhgh812@student.otago.ac.nz
Marah Alsaid
Topic: Clinical presentation and oral microbiome of children with Molar-Incisor Hypomineralisation
Supervisors: Dr Noren Nor Hasmun, Associate Professor Mani Ekambaran, Associate Professor Nick Heng
Commenced 2023
Email alsma923@student.otago.ac.nz
Amila Peramune Arachchilage
Topic: Development of a Hybrid nanocomposite from natural Montmorillonite clay and waste bovine bone for dental restorative applications
Supervisors: Dr Jithendra Ratnayake, Professor Paul Cooper, Professor George Dias (Anatomy, UO), Associate Professor Peter Cathro
Commenced 2023
Email amila.saman@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Saira Ashfaq
Topic: An analysis of mechanical properties and microwear texture analysis in fossil teeth
Supervisors: Associate Professor Carolina Loch, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li
Commenced 2025
Email ashsa060@student.otago.ac.nz
Chen Chen
Topic: Mānuka oil antimicrobial bio-gel to promote bone regeneration in periodontitis
Supervisors: Professor Dawn Coates, Professor Warwick Duncan, Professor Natalie Hughes (Pharmacy)
Commenced 2022
Email chen.chen@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Shiyao (Tom) Chen
Topic: Enhancing adhesion and durability of 3D-printed permanent dental crown resins via engineered micro-textures
Supervisors: Associate Professor Joanne Choi, Associate Professor Nick Heng, Professor Andreas Konig (Leipzig University), Mr Florian Fuchs (Leipzig University), Mr Andrew Cameron (Griffith University)
Commenced 2026
Email chesh312@student.otago.ac.nz
Yipeng (Evon) Fu
Topic: Bioactive peptides for the management of dental caries
Supervisors: Associate Professor Mani Ekambaram, Professor May Mei, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li, Professor Paul Cooper, Professor Quanli Li (Anhui Medical University)
Commenced 2022
Email fuev4340@student.otago.ac.nz
Christina Gee
Topic: Bovine-derived lactoferrin in a degradable PVA -tyramine hydrogel for oral bone regeneration in a tooth socket model
Supervisors: Professor Warwick Duncan, Professor Dawn Coates, Associate Professor Khoon Lim (University of Sydney)
Commenced 2019 (part-time)
Email geech379@student.otago.ac.nz
Simon (Guangzhou) Guan
Topic: Real-time atomic force microscopy assessment of the nanotopography and nanomechanics of living cells for early diagnosis of oral cancer
Supervisors: Associate Professor Peter Li Mei, Associate Professor Dawn Coates, Professor Richard Cannon, Professor Alison Rich
Commenced 2021 (part-time)
Email guagu033@student.otago.ac.nz
Zijing He
Topic: Accuracy of cobalt-chromium implant frameworks: 3D printing vs. CNC milling
Supervisors: Dr Arthi Senthilkumar, Associate Professor Vincent Bennani, Mr John Aarts, Associate Professor Joanne Choi
Commenced 2025
Email hezi6606@student.otago.ac.nz
Lucy Henderson
Topic: An exploration of childhood physiological stress through the histological analysis of enamel formation disruption
Supervisors: Associate Professor Carolina Loch, Associate Professor Claire Cameron (Biostatistics, UO), Dr Charlotte King (Anatomy, UO), Dr Annie Sohler-Snoddy (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)
Commenced 2022; under examination
Email lucy.henderson@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Eisha Imran
Topic: Development of zinc substituted nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste for caries management
Supervisors: Professor Paul Cooper, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li, Professor May Mei, Associate Professor Mani Ekambaram, Dr Jithendra Ratnayake
Commenced 2023
Email imrei644@student.otago.ac.nz
Kartika Kajal
Topic: Dental anxiety and use of oral health care services across the life course
Supervisors: Professor Jonathan Broadbent, Dr Sandhya Ramrakha (Psychology, Mr Andrew Gray (Biostatistics Centre)
Commenced 2024
Email kajka747@student.otago.ac.nz
Zohaib Khurshid
Topic: Development of a novel ovine tooth putty for use in dental applications
Supervisors: Professor Paul Cooper, Dr Jithendra Ratnayake, Professor George Dias (Anatomy), Associate Professor Abdul Samad Khan (Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University)
Commenced 2021
Email z.khurshid@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Alex Leonard
Topic: Chemical modifications of fish collagen as a 3D scaffold biomaterial for soft tissue engineering applications
Supervisors: Professor Azam Ali, Associate Professor Jaydee Cabral (Microbiology and Immunology, UO), Dr Mathew Cumming (Plant & Food Research)
Commenced 2021; under examination
Email leoal228@student.otago.ac.nz
Xiao Li
Topic: Novel 3D PCL hollow-pipe scaffold with bone cement infiltration for bone regeneration and vascularization
Supervisors: Associate Professor Dawn Coates, Professor Warwick Duncan, Associate Professor Joanne Choi
Commenced 2023; under examination
Email lixi3604@student.otago.ac.nz
Xiaoyun (Abby) Liu
Topic: Accuracy and bur wear of multiple milling machines for dental ceramics: A multi-centre study
Supervisors: Associate Professor Joanne Choi, Associate Professor Nick Heng, Mr Andrew Cameron (Griffith University), Mr Ketil Hegerstrøm Haugli (OsloMet)
Commenced 2022; under examination
Email abby.liu@otago.ac.nz
Peng Qiu
Topic: A tough hydrogel coating on PEEK with tissue adhesion and drug-delivery capacities
Supervisors: Dr Erwin Lamping, Professor Sunyoung Ma, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li, Dr Trudy Milne
Commenced 2023
Email peng.qiu@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Ayesha Sameera
Topic: Endoplasmic reticulum stress in oral lichen planus
Supervisors: Associate Professor Benedict Seo, Professor Haizal Hussaini, Dr Qing Sun, Professor Paul Cooper, Professor Alison Rich
Commenced 2022; under examination
Email ayesha.sameera@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Arul Kumar Sengottaiyan
Topic: Effect of a modified full coverage preparation design on absolute margin discrepancy, vertical marginal discrepancy, horizontal marginal discrepancy, and internal adaptation for digitally fabricated zirconia bridges
Supervisors: Dr Arthi Senthilkumar, Associate Professor Vincent Bennani, Professor Raj Das (RMIT)
Commenced 2024
Email arul.sengottaiyan@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Hamza Parvez Siddiqui
Topic: Exploring the use of clear aligner-based mandibular advancement appliances for managing sleep-disordered breathing: a crossover clinical study
Supervisors: Professor Mauro Farella, Dr Adith Venugopal
Commenced 2024
Email sidha987@student.otago.ac.nz
Ashan Nilaga Wagarachchi
Topic: Development of M2 macrophage derived exosomes loaded bovine derived Zn-HAp nanoparticles for pulp-dentine complex tissue healing regeneration
Supervisors: Dr Jithendra Ratnayake, Professor Paul Cooper, Associate Professor Lyn Wise (Pharmacology & Toxicology, UO), Associate Professor Peter Cathro
Commenced 2026
Email ashan.wagarachchi@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Xiaoxia Wang
Topic: Influence of post-washing durations on the properties of 3D-printed dentures
Supervisors: Associate Professor Joanne Choi, Associate Professor Nick Heng, Mr Andrew Cameron (Griffith University), Mr John Aarts
Commenced 2025
Email wanxi296@student.otago.ac.nz
Po Kam (Caris) Wo
Topic: Early orthodontic treatment with multifunctional clear aligners
Supervisors: Professor Peter Mei, Professor Richard Cannon, Associate Professor Simon Guan
Commenced 2025
Email caris.wo@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Yingjie Xu
Topic: The evaluation of soft tissue response on plasma treated implant abutment surfaces
Supervisors: Dr Arthi Senthilkumar, Associate Professor Vincent Bennani, Professor George Dias (Anatomy, UO), Dr Jithendra Ratnayake
Commenced 2026
Email xuyi7517@student.otago.ac.nz
Mohammed Yehea
Topic: Digital dentistry: studies on the accuracy of digital implant workflow and static computer-guided implant placement
Supervisors: Professor Azam Ali, Professor Karl Lyons
Commenced 2023
Email yehmo258@student.otago.ac.nz
Vaishnavi Yeleswarapu
Topic: Developing and evaluating a digital graphic resource for oral health behaviour change: a multiphase mixed-methods study
Supervisors: Associate Professor Kate Morgaine, Professor Jonathan Broadbent, Dr Zeina Al Naasan
Commenced 2023
Email vaishnavi.yeleswarapu@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
TiYa Zhang
Topic: Assembly of ultralong hydroxyapatite nanowires to enhance the mechanical properties and bioactivities of glass ionomer cement
Supervisors: Professor May Mei, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li, Associate Professor Manikandan Ekambaram, Professor Paul Cooper, Professor Quanli Li (Anhui Medical University)
Commenced 2023
Email zhaya622@student.otago.ac.nz
Ruijie (Iris) Zhang
Topic: AI’s application in orthodontics
Supervisors: Associate Professor Peter Mei, Professor Zhiyi Huang (Computer Science, UO), Professor Mauro Farella, Associate Professor Simon Guan
Commenced 2025
Email zharu778@student.otago.ac.nz
Mengcun Zhao
Topic: Structure of ABC transporter Cdr1 embedded in native lipids
Supervisors: Dr Erwin Lamping, Professor Richard Cannon
Commenced 2023
Email zhame830@student.otago.ac.nz
Graduates
Nazahiah Bakri
Topic: Assessing the Impact of promoting healthy lifestyle in the workplace and its relationship with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life
Supervisors: Professor Murray Thomson, Dr Moira Smith (Public Health, UOW), Professor Jonathan Broadbent
Commenced 2020
Graduated December 2024
Shuva Bhowmik
Topic: Utilisation of bioactive chitosan for sustainable active and intelligent food packaging
Supervisors: Professor Azam Ali, Dr Dominic Agyei (Food Science, UO)
Commenced 2021
Graduated May 2025
Priyanthi Chandravarnan
Topic: Decontamination of fungi and mycotoxins in rice by sustainable decontamination technology
Supervisors: Professor Azam Ali, Dr Dominic Agyei (Food Science, UO)
Commenced 2021
Graduated December 2024
Christina Deng
Topic: Bioabsorbable surgical sutures for wound healing
Supervisors: Professor Azam Ali, Professor Rajesh Katare (Physiology, UO)
Commenced 2021
Graduated December 2024
Deanna Beckett
Topic: Dental consequences of Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and early infancy
Supervisors: Professor Jonathan Broadbent, Professor Ben Wheeler (Womens & Childrens Health, UO), Associate Professor Carolina Loch
Commenced 2018 (part-time)
Graduated May 2024
Exceptional Thesis award 2024
Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan
Topic: Development and characterisation of a novel thermoresponsive hydrogel for brain tissue regeneration after stroke
Supervisors: Professor Azam Ali, Dr Andrew Clarkson (Anatomy, UO)
Commenced 2018
Graduated May 2024
Asrar Elahi
Topic: Mechanical optimisation and biological functionalisation of bovine xenograft bone blocks for oral bone grafting
Supervisors: Professor Warwick Duncan, Associate Professor Dawn Coates, Dr Kai Chun Li
Commenced 2018
Graduated May 2024
Ana Grymak
Topic: Correlation of three wear test modules and post-analysis methods for dental materials
Supervisors: Professor Sunyoung Ma, Associate Professor Kai Chun Li
Commenced 2021
Graduated December 2025