Student research is a vital part of the scholarly mission at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, encompassing exceptional work by DDS students, residents, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral scholars. Our DDS Student Research Program is nationally recognized for its excellence, with students regularly contributing to impactful projects and presenting their work at major conferences. The college’s advanced education programs span 10 of the 12 ADA-recognized dental specialties, along with two additional distinguished residency tracks, fostering clinical research and academic leadership. In addition, our T90/R90 training grant program continues to support the next generation of oral health scientists through rigorous interdisciplinary training and mentorship.

2024-2025 Academic Year

Student Research Program

44

student projects

69

conference presentations

6

peer-reviewed manuscript publications

2024-2025 Student Research Group News Stories

Claire Kettle with her research mentor

Michael Chavez and Claire Kettle earn Outstanding Dental Student Research Awards

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
At the spring meeting of Dental Student Research Group, Michael Chavez and Claire Kettle received the award for 2025 Outstanding Dental Researcher. 
Jennifer Sukalski with the student who nominated her for the mentor of the year award

2025 Mentor of the Year

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Dr. Jennifer Sukalski was named the 2024-25 Student Research Mentor of the Year by the Iowa Chapter of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. by the Iowa Chapter of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research. This award was presented in recognition of his efforts to enhance students research at the College of Dentistry.
A document with a checkmark on it

Eleven Student Researchers Earn Senior Research Achievement Awards

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Senior Research Achievement Awards are determined based on a portfolio of research that is circulated to a group of electors. The electors select award recipients based on the scientific merit of projects, the significance and productivity of projects, the number of years of involvement in research, the originality of the research, and the student's professional conduct. Award recipients were selected in 2025: Olivia Bartholomew, James Beyer, Michael Chavez, Carter Coppinger, Garret Curtis, Casey Delaney, Zach Graham, Alex Harper, Austin Hinkle, Claire Kettle, and Jackie Yeh.
Alex Harper

DDS student Alex Harper (D4) featured in Dare to Discover campaign

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Samuel Allen (D4) was featured in the 2025 Dare to Discover Campaign for the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President of Research. Samuel Allen's research investigates how probiotics can boost oral health
Samuel Allen

DDS student Samuel Allen (D4) featured in Dare to Discover campaign

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Samuel Allen (D4) was featured in the 2025 Dare to Discover Campaign for the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President of Research. Samuel Allen's research investigates how probiotics can boost oral health
Vi Phan

DDS student Vi Phan (D3) featured in Dare to Discover campaign

Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Samuel Allen (D4) was featured in the 2025 Dare to Discover Campaign for the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President of Research. Samuel Allen's research investigates how probiotics can boost oral health
A dental student points out two sections of her poster during a presentation on Feb. 11, 2025.

College of Dentistry highlights, celebrates student researchers during AADOCR Research Day

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Following a day of speakers, posters, and presentations inside the Dental Science Building for the 72nd annual meeting of the Iowa Section of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, students were recognized during the awards banquet at the Courtyard Marriott in University Heights.
AADOCR Student Research Group Award 2025

College of Dentistry receives 2 national student research awards

Monday, February 10, 2025
The UI College of Dentistry was named the winner of two significant awards from the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) National Student Research Group (NSRG). The honors highlight the college's commitment to student research and discovery.
Alex Harper and Dr. Steve Levy

Fluoride Skepticism in Focus: Alex Harper’s Research on Attitudes about Fluoride Use

Friday, February 7, 2025
As debates surrounding fluoride gain attention across the U.S., a dental student from the University of Iowa is tackling the issue head-on. Alex Harper, a fourth-year dental student, is investigating attitudes about fluoride and tap water. As misinformation erodes trust in science, Harper’s research provides timely insights into public perceptions and oral health behaviors.

Student Research Newsletter 2024-2025

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National Presentations

AADOCR Annual Meeting

Thirty students attended and presented at the AADOCR Annual Conference in New York, NY March 12-15, 2025. The Student Research Program received an award for being recognized as having the highest number of student researchers registered nationally. Saba Manafi was awarded second place in the prestigious Hatton Competition. (D2) Elise Amerongen, Anna Hedges, Ann Luo, Katie McAllister, Veronica McClennen, Benjamin Pierson, Shubhi Sharma, Madison Thatcher, Kathryn Volz, Keshav Wagle (D3) Madeline Berst, Madison Bradley, Brandon Cooley, Austin Draws, Reid Hogan, Tyler Jenness, Saba Manafi, Corben Masterson, Maya Olson, Vi Phan, Jeremiah Poppen, Reis Schweiner, Christina Spencer, Marnie Vonderhaar, Taylor Westphal (D4) Carter Coppinger, Casey Delaney, Austin Hinkle, Annel Lueth, Jackie Yeh

AAE Annual Conference

(D4) Zachary Graham presented at the AAE conference in Boston, MA April 2-5, 2025.   

NOHC Annual Conference

(D4) Claire Kettle presented at the NOHC conference in Orlando, FL April 7-9, 2025

AAPD Annual Conference

(D4) Garry Emmons presented at the AAPD conference in Denver, CO May 22-25, 2025.

Student Publications

Petrin AL, Machado-Paula LA, Hinkle A (D4), Hovey L (Grad), Awotoye W, Chimenti M, Darbro B, Ribeiro-Bicudo LA, Dabdoub SM, Peter T, Breheny P, Murray JC, Van Otterloo E, Rengasamy Venugopalan S, Moreno-Uribe LM. Familial Oculoauriculovertebral Spectrum: A Genomic Investigation of Autosomal Dominant Inheritance. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2025 Jan 17;:10556656241306202. doi:10.1177/10556656241306202. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39819101; NIHMSID:NIHMS2056547. 

Awotoye W, Machado-Paula LA, Hovey L (Grad), Keen H, Chimenti M, Darbro B, Dabdoub S, Thomas JC, Murray J, Venugopalan SR, Moreno-Uribe L, Petrin AL. Multiomic analyses of a twin pair with mirror image cleft lip identifies pathogenic variant in FGF20 modified by differential methylation upstream of ZFP57. medRxiv. 2024 Nov 18;. doi: 10.1101/2024.11.16.24317351. PubMed PMID: 39606391; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11601713. 

Seaberg A (Grad), Awotoye W, Qian F, Machado-Paula LA, Dunlay L, Butali A, Murray J, Moreno-Uribe L, Petrin AL. DNA Methylation Effects on Van der Woude Syndrome Phenotypic Variability. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 2024 Aug 7;:10556656241269495. doi: 10.1177/10556656241269495. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39109995; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11802890. 

Delaney C (D4), Warren J, Rysavy OA, Marshall T. Dietary questions in caries risk assessment and their relationship to caries. J Public Health Dent. 2024 Oct 8. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12647. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39377152. 

Shao F, Phan AV (D3), Yu W, Guo Y, Thompson J, Coppinger C (D4), Venugopalan SR, Amendt BA, Van Otterloo E, Cao H. Transcriptional programs of Pitx2 and Tfap2a/Tfap2b controlling lineage specification of mandibular epithelium during tooth initiation. PLoS Genet. 2024 Jul 25;20(7):e1011364. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011364. PMID: 39052671; PMCID: PMC11302917. 

Bowers RD, Shi W, Pendleton C, Dabdoub S, Sukalski J, Bartholomew OC (D4), Hogden CT. Electronic health record associations in patients self-reporting to be difficult to anesthetize. J Dent Anesth Pain Med. 2025 Apr;25(2):97-108. https://doi.org/10.17245/jdapm.2025.25.2.97

Teresa Marshall

Teresa Marshall, PhD, RDN/LDN

Professor, Preventative & Community Dentistry
Director, Student Research Program

Eric Van Otterloo

Eric Van Otterloo, PhD

Associate Professor, Periodontics, Anatomy and Cell Biology
Assistant Director, Student Research Program

Sheila Britton

Sheila Britton

Program Administrator
Student Research Program

Graduate and Post-Doctoral Programs

9

T90/R90 Fellows

1

oral science dissertation defense

12

oral science Master's degree defenses