About

Lab Director

Dr. Divakar Karanth is a distinguished, American Board of Orthodontics-certified clinician and educator with nearly three decades of experience across India, the United Kingdom, Trinidad, Libya, Qatar, and the United States. His career reflects a deep commitment to advancing orthodontics through innovation, scholarship, and mentorship.

As the founder of the Ortho Innovation Lab, Dr. Karanth has created a dynamic hub for translating cutting-edge ideas into clinical practice. Drawing on his dual expertise as a private practitioner and academician, the lab serves as a bridge between research and real-world application.

Dr. Karanth’s research, supported by two grants from the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation, explores the transformative potential of technology in orthodontics. His work encompasses the development of 3D-printed biomaterials, investigations into the fundamental biology of tooth movement, and the application of Artificial Intelligence to address complex diagnostic challenges, including the assessment of root resorption and skeletal maturity.

A respected educator and mentor, Dr. Karanth is a member of the prestigious Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists and has served as the president of the Society of Educators for the American Association of Orthodontists. His teaching philosophy reflects the innovative spirit of his lab, emphasizing active problem-solving and the integration of technology to prepare the next generation of orthodontic leaders.

Our Team

Shreejit Chander Cheela is a graduate student at the University of Florida pursuing a master’s in Artificial Intelligence Systems, with a focus on Natural Language Processing. His research centers on building ethical and explainable AI solutions for real-world challenges. Shreejit has contributed to projects like VocalVision, an image captioning system designed to assist visually impaired users, and has published work on emotion recognition and steganography. He brings hands-on experience from internships in machine learning and data science, and is passionate about making AI more transparent, human-centered, and socially impactful. The Ortho Innovation Lab currently employs him to develop an NLP program in the field of interceptive orthodontics.

Savannah Akus is a Software Engineer and University of Florida graduate, holding a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Digital Arts and Sciences. She specializes in developing immersive virtual reality simulations and scalable enterprise applications. As former President of GatorVR, she led innovation within the AR/VR community, fostering technical growth and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Her professional experience includes engineering VR retail simulations for international brands and building medical training platforms using Unity 3D and OpenXR. With a strong foundation in 3D environments and applied XR technologies, she now collaborates with the Ortho Innovation Lab to translate emerging technology into real-world clinical practice.

Tyler Magill, D.M.D. Dr. Magill earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and his dental degree at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, where he developed a passion for the intersection of technology and orthodontics. His early experience using AI-driven image recognition to automate CVM staging sparked a broader interest in how intelligent systems can enhance clinical decision-making. Now a resident at UF working in the Ortho Innovation Lab, Dr. Magill is focused on exploring new frontiers in how AI can enhance orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.

Sharanya Singh is a current fourth-year dental student at the UF College of Dentistry (UFCD). She earned her bachelor’s in nutritional sciences from UF and earned admission into UFCD’s B.S.-D.M.D. program in her first year. Sharanya is part of the Research Track Program at UFCD, and in collaboration with the orthodontic department, she contributes to ongoing research in artificial intelligence to enhance patient outcomes and virtual reality to improve educational outcomes. Sharanya is excited to continue using cutting-edge technology as part of the Orthodontics Innovation lab to expand the field’s knowledge.

Emile Karam is a current dental student at the UF College of Dentistry (UFCD) and a recipient of the U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program. He earned his bachelor’s in biology from UF where he was a recipient of the University Scholars Program and the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship. Emile is part of the Research Track Program at UFCD, through which he contributes to the Orthodontics Innovation Lab. He is excited to expand his knowledge of virtual reality and artificial intelligence applications in dentistry and explore how these technologies can transform dental education and clinical training.

Isabella Flores is a second-year student at UF, majoring in health science on the pre-dental track. She is originally from Miami, Florida, and plans to pursue a career in dentistry after completing her undergraduate degree. In her free time, she enjoys running, staying active, and spending time with family and friends. She is working on graphics and animation related to the orthodontic biomechanics for VR development.

Laila Jamasi is a first-year dental student at the UF College of Dentistry and currently volunteers with the Ortho Innovation Lab. She completed her undergraduate studies at UF and is a BS-DMD candidate, on track to earn her degree in nutritional sciences in 2026. Laila values research for the unique learning opportunities it offers, particularly for exploring novel advancements in dentistry, an area closely aligned with the mission of the Ortho Innovation Lab.

Tvisha Patel is a third-year dental student at the UFCD. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Florida. Tvisha is a participant in the UF College of Dentistry Research Track Program. She is currently preparing a manuscript focused on root resorption research. Tvisha is enthusiastic about further developing her research skills, deepening her understanding of root resorption, and contributing meaningfully to the Ortho Innovation lab.

Lab Alumni