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The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Awards Committee has named Jaclyn Merlo, MS, a standout researcher in the field of pain therapeutics, as the 2025 Outstanding PhD Student Research Awardee. 

Merlo, a third-year doctoral student in the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at ������ and a participant in the Craniofacial Oral-Biology Student Training in Academic Research program at the School of Dentistry, was selected for her exceptional research contributions. 

Merlo earned her master's degree in Immunology and Infection at ������ and is currently working under the mentorship of , professor and director of research in the Department of Endodontics, and deputy director of the Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research.

Merlo received seven nominations for this award, and the committee stated that the amazing research productivity she accomplished in the last year is what solidified her recognition. 

She has had two first author publications, two travel awards and five conference presentations in only her third year of doctoral training.  Her nominators also spoke to her work ethic, contributions to general lab projects outside your dissertation research and her mastery of a diverse range of challenging lab techniques. 

“Jaclyn has been an outstanding addition to my lab and I couldn’t be more proud of everything she has achieved so far despite the many obstacles that came her way,” shared Ruparel. 

Merlo’s research, conducted within the Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research, advances innovative pain management and therapy development to improve patient care and outcomes. Her work exemplifies the center’s mission by addressing critical challenges in dental pain research.

Merlo is set to formally receive the award at the ������ Awards Night on April 24.