Powered by her Ostrow experience, Heliya Ziaei is well positioned to blend research and patient care as a clinician-scientist.
Though Heliya Ziaei, PhD ’26, arrived at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC in 2022 facing formidable challenges — namely, adjusting to life in a new country upon relocating from her native Iran — the excitement of studying at Ostrow trumped any intimidation.
Pursuing her PhD in craniofacial biology, Ziaei relished the opportunity to continue exploring the biology behind tooth development and regeneration, a line of inquiry that first fascinated Ziaei during her DDS studies at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Even more thrilling, however, Ziaei was joining the renowned Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at USC helmed by Yang Chai PhD ’91, DDS ’96, one of the globe’s foremost experts in craniofacial development and malformations.
“Getting accepted to USC was such a thrill, and the excitement was there from day one,” Ziaei says.
And, for Ziaei, those positive vibes never dissipated, as Ostrow delivered an enterprising scientific culture, an unrelenting commitment to patient care and collaborative, willing mentors fueling her push to become a clinician-scientist. Chai, in particular, emboldened Ziaei to pursue novel inquiry and encouraged her to follow her scientific instincts with unfettered energy.
“He allowed me to trust myself and showed me what it means to be dedicated to the field and what you’re truly passionate about,” Ziaei says of Chai, now Ostrow’s Dean and a University Professor of Dentistry, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Top Research Accolades
Inspired and empowered, Ziaei excelled at Ostrow. She impressed colleagues with her investigative drive and captured numerous honors for research projects studying craniofacial anomalies, including how surrounding cells regulate tooth innervation during tooth root formation and how that impacts regeneration.
Ziaei captured “Best Poster” honors by a graduate student at Ostrow Research Day in 2025 and 2026, but, it turned out, those were preludes to even bigger prizes. This past March, she claimed top honors in the senior basic science category — first, at the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research before going on to compete and win first place at the prestigious International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR) Hatton Competition. It was one of the first times in recent history that an Ostrow student has performed such a feat.
Her project explored how the dental mesenchyme uses epigenetic mechanisms to regulate BMP signaling, guiding sensory nerve growth in developing teeth. The findings could one day have implications for neuron and pulp regeneration.
“What I’ve learned at USC is how research is really about asking the right questions,” says Ziaei, who calls herself “obsessed” with her work.
Ultimate Goal: Clinician-Scientist
Meanwhile, Chai celebrates Ziaei’s consistent drive to make impactful contributions to craniofacial biology research.
“She demonstrates strong intellectual curiosity and approaches her work with an open and thoughtful mindset,” Chai says of his mentee.
Ziaei credits Ostrow for cultivating confidence and sharpening her future focus. While she is devoting her immediate attention to landing an endodontics residency, Ziaei eventually wants to become a clinician-scientist applying her research findings to patient care. She hopes to enjoy a long academic career where she can pursue research and clinical duties in tandem.
“To me, blending research and clinical work together is such a powerful way to impact patients,” Ziaei says. “If you know diseases more deeply, then you can design projects to address patient needs, discover new ways to improve treatment and implement what is known to improve outcomes.”