Dental Research Student Association
Who we are
The Dental Research Student Association (DRSA) is a newly established Melbourne Dental School student association and is affiliated with the Graduate Research Association (GSA) at the University of Melbourne. DRSA seeks to create a social and inclusive environment within our school and to assist students with navigating the world of post-graduate research as well as facilitating social, professional development, and extracurricular opportunities for students who are involved in dental/oral health-related research. DRSA events range from fun, casual get-togethers to more professional gatherings like our Journal Club.
Meet the committee
| Zilefac Brian Ngokwe — President, DRSAI am Brian Ngokwe, a current third year PhD student at the Melbourne Dental School of the University of Melbourne. My research focus is on oral cancer prevention by using patient derived organoids which are in vitro 3-dimensional faithful models with close genomic constitution to their tissue of origin to better understand oral precancer and oral carcinogenesis. I am honoured to serve as the current president of the Dental Research student’s association (DRSA). Our goal in the DRSA is through planning and organizing a variety of social, intellectual, professional development and outdoor events to foster an inclusive and social atmosphere for graduate research candidates. |
| Ayu Fresno Argadianti — Secretary, DRSAHey all, I'm Ayu, Secretary of the DRSA board 2026. I'm from Indonesia, where I hold an Oral Medicine Specialist degree. Currently in my 2nd year of PhD in the Oral Medicine Oral Cancer Research Group. I keep myself busy pushing Brian to approve our activities (sorry, Brian), sending out emails and reminders to get our GRs engaged - in a fun and non-pushy way lol, reading lots of Greek mythology retelling, and raising 2 beautiful kids. Find me linger on level 5, and let's have some boba tea together :D |
| Stephanie Munthe — Treasurer, DRSAI'm a 2nd-year PhD candidate researching oral cancer epidemiology - basically, I'm passionate about understanding oral cancer and finding ways to improve prevention and outcomes through research. Outside academia, I love being involved in communities that help people connect, learn, and grow. That's one of the reasons I enjoy being part of DRSA! Whether you have questions about DRSA, ideas for events, want to collaborate, or just feel like grabbing a coffee and having a chat, I'd love to meet you. Feel free to reach out anytime. |
| Tasneem Elagib — Social & Wellbeing Officer, DRSAHi everyone! I'm Tassneem, a PhD candidate in Orthodontics at the Melbourne Dental School. My research explores sleep-disordered breathing, craniofacial morphology, and airway assessment, with the goal of improving patient care through research. As the Wellbeing Officer, I'm looking forward to organising social events and wellbeing activities that bring our research community together. Outside of university, I enjoy travelling, photography, reading, and discovering new cafés and places around Melbourne. |
2025 committee members
- Dr Yeganeh Khazaei , President
- Alexander Logothetis, Vice President
- Dr Negar Yazdani, Secretary and Treasurer
- Dr Marwa Mostafa, Social & Wellbeing Officer
Our activities
PhD life keeps us all busy, but we make it a point to come together at least once a month — whether it’s a casual coffee catch-up, a small lunch, or a relaxed get-together. Here’s a little sneak peek into some of our socials:
DRSA held a fun “Painting Night” at the Geoffrey Wylie Theatre, bringing together GR/DCD candidates for an evening of art, music, and connection - complete with pizza!
“Journal Clubs” — our newest DRSA initiative, created to enhance learning, discussion, and professional growth for GRs across the School.
“Graduation Ball” organised by the Melbourne Dental Postgraduate Group (MDPG) in partnership with the Dental Research Student Association (DRSA) of the School. This special evening celebrates the achievements of all students in the DCD and GR programs at MDS, with particular recognition for those completing their degrees in 2025.
Join our Journal Club
Our monthly MDS Journal Club is a shared space for learning, discussion, and critical thinking within the DRSA and the wider MDS community. Designed for students from all backgrounds, it’s a friendly and inclusive environment to delve into research methods, understand the statistical side of science, and learn how strong research is designed, analysed, and applied.