Dr. Joyce Masalu is actively involved in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Community Dentistry Unit, School of Dentistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). Her academic responsibilities include delivering lectures, facilitating practical fieldwork, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, and mentoring students in research methodology, epidemiology, and evidence-based oral healthcare.
Her research interests focus on psychosocial aspects of oral health, particularly the application of health behavior theories and models, oral health-related quality of life, and behavioral determinants of oral diseases. She also has extensive experience in oral epidemiology, including the design, implementation, and analysis of population-based oral health studies, with a particular interest in generating evidence to inform oral health policy and preventive interventions.
Dr. Joyce Masalu has contributed to national oral health surveys and other community-based oral health research initiatives. Her expertise includes study design, epidemiological methods, survey planning and implementation, data collection, and the translation of research findings into strategies that strengthen oral health promotion, disease prevention, and public health practice.