{"id":2656,"date":"2017-11-10T20:10:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-11T01:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/aging\/mstar\/mstar-research-opportunities-selecting-a-mentor\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T09:43:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T14:43:03","slug":"mstar-research-opportunities-selecting-a-mentor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/aging\/mstar\/mstar-research-opportunities-selecting-a-mentor\/","title":{"rendered":"MSTAR Research Opportunities & Selecting a Mentor"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr.
Dr. Jan Busby-Whitehead and UNC former MSTAR student Kemi Was<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NOTE: <\/em><\/strong><\/span>Mentor availability varies from year to year. Currently, we are surveying mentors for their summer 2026 availability. So this list may not reflect actual mentor availability. As a result, we request that you do not directly contact UNC-CH MSTAR mentors before contacting the program (MSTAR@med.unc.edu<\/a>). Applications for 2026 are now CLOSED.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

After contacting the MSTAR program<\/a>, you will identify three areas of interest and submit the interest survey to MSTAR. We will contact you to connect you with potential mentors and answer any question you may have.<\/p>\n

Currently Available MSTAR Mentors<\/h2>\n
\n \n
\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"C.\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n C. Adrian Austin, MD, MSCR <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Instructor, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Andrea\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Associate Professor, UNC Departments of Medicine and Nutrition
\nNC State Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
\nDirector, Microbiome Core Facility<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Tamara\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Tamara Baker, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Professor, Department of Psychiatry<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Leon\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Leon Coleman, MD, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor
\nBowles Center for Alcohol Studies
\nDepartment of Pharmacology<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Eran\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Eran Dayan, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor of Radiology<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Brian\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Brian Diekman, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Tamryn\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Tamryn Fowler Gray, PhD, RN, MPH <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
\nAssociate Member, Lineberger\u00a0Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Lindsey\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, PhD, MHA <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Associate Professor and Director of Master\u2019s Programs, Health Policy and Management
\nAdjunct Assistant Professor, Nutrition<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Ming-Feng\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Ming-Feng Hsueh, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor
\nDepartment of Orthopaedics<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Adam\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Adam Jacks, PhD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Associate Professor
\nCoordinator of Undergraduate Minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Anna\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Anna Kahkoska, MD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition
\nAdjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Dr.\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n David Lynch, BMBS <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor of Medicine
\nMedical Director, Inpatient Geriatrics Service (Hillsborough)<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Mallory\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Mallory McClester Brown, MD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Michelle\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Michelle L. Meyer, PhD, MPH <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Research Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine
\nAssociate Chair of Research<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Michael\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Michael G. Rydberg, MD <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Assistant Professor of Medicine<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Philip\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Philip Sloane, MD, MPH <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

MSTAR Program Co-Director<\/strong>
\nDistinguished Professor & Director of Academic Advancement, Department of Family Medicine<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Carolyn\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Carolyn Thorpe, PhD, MPH <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

Associate Professor Pharmacy
\nDivision of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n

\n
\n \t\t\n
\n \"Sheryl\n \"\"\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n <\/div>\n
\n

\n Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD MSW <\/a>\n <\/h2> \n \n

University Kenan Distinguished Professor
\nCo-Director, Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
\nDirector of Aging Research, School of Social Work<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n \n