2023 Awards

Spring 2024 Edition

The Dental Student Research Group at the University of Iowa is one of the premier programs in the country. The accomplishments of participating students over the 2023-2024 year highlight the value and importance of the program. 

Student Research Groups Stories

Mary Young with her mentor Azeez Butali

Mary Young earns Outstanding Dental Student Research Awards

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
At the spring meeting of Dental Student Research Group, Mary Young received the award for 2024 Outstanding Dental Researcher. 
Jackie Yeh, Salah Abuhammoud, and Corben Masterson

2024 Mentor of the Year

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Dr. Salahaldeen Abuhammoud was named the 2023-24 Student Research Mentor of the Year 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

Six Student Researchers Earn Senior Research Achievement Awards

Wednesday, June 12, 2024
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 2024: Colton Curtis, Sara Escudero, Luke Hovey, Arshi Mungal, Mandi Seaberg, and Mary Young.
The Iowa Contingent at the 2024 National Oral Health Conference

A large contingent of Iowa Dentistry faculty, students, and alumni attended and presented at the National Oral Health Conference April 15-17 in St. Louis, MO.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024
A large contingent of Iowa Dentistry faculty, students, and alumni attended and presented at the National Oral Health Conference April 15-17 in St. Louis, MO.
Dr. Lawrence Tabak receives a plaque to memorialize his visit during the 2024 Research Day

Photo Gallery: 2024 Research Day

Thursday, February 15, 2024
Check out these sights from the 71st Anniversary of the Iowa Section of the AADOCR.
Colton Curtis in a labratory

Student Research Profile: Improving Dry Mouth and Oral Health in Older Populations with Dentures

Wednesday, February 14, 2024
The Dental Student Research Program at Iowa Dentistry has a long and venerable tradition of teaching students to conduct and think critically about research. Fourth-year dental student Colton Curtis exemplifies these qualities in his work investigating methods to improve dry mouth and oral health in older populations with dentures. Curtis’ experience over the course of his dental career illustrates this well. He began doing research in his first year, but it took him a while to zero in on the right topic.
Arshi Munjal

DDS student Arshi Munjal featured in Dare to Discover campaign

Friday, January 26, 2024
Arshi Munjal, a DDS student, was named a 2024 Dare to Discover student. Munjal is studying ways our diets can impact the oral microbiome. The primary aim of her research is to compare microbial composition and co-occurrence patters in different areas of the oral cavity and then evaluate how they vary in individuals with different diets. Research in this area is limited, so Munjal hopes to better understand how our diets influence the oral microbiome and evaluate potential consequences on dental and perioral diseases.
Michael Chavez

DDS student Michael Chavez featured in Dare to Discover campaign

Friday, January 19, 2024
Michael Chavez, a DDS/PhD student, was named a 2024 Dare to Discover students. Chavez is researching ways to harness the power of mineralized tissues. These mineralized tissues possess an inherent capacity for repair and regeneration. Chavez is aiming to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of mineralization to pave the way for new and innovative treatments.
Michael Chavez receiving an award

Michael Chavez wins research award

Friday, November 17, 2023
Third-year DDS/PhD student Michael Chavez received an award for most outstanding student presentation for his project “Exogenous Bone Sialoprotein Enhances Alveolar Bone Healing in Mice.”
Jackie Yeh shown with her award and Cris Vidal and Salah Abuhammoud

Jackie Yeh wins research award

Saturday, October 28, 2023
Third-year DDS student Jackie Yeh received the Academy of Dental Materials University Student Award for her research with Dr. Salah Abuhammoud and Dr. Carlos Jurado.

Student Publications

Bartholomew OC (D3)

Bowers RD, Hogden CT, Bartholomew OC (D3), Qian F, Howe BJ. Survey investigation of articaine use in the United States. J Am Dent Assoc. 2023 Dec;154(12):1058-1066.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.08.005. Epub 2023 Oct 1. PMID: 37777935.

Michael Chavez (D3)

Chavez MB (D3), Tan MH, Kolli TN, Andras NL, Foster BL. Functional defects in cementoblasts with disrupted bone sialoprotein functional domains, in vitro. Bone. 2024 Feb;179:116961. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2023.116961. Epub 2023 Nov 10. PMID: 37951522; PMCID: PMC10841848.

A Hinkle (D3) and L Hovey (D4)

Petrin, Machado-Paula, A Hinkle (D3), L Hovey (D4), W Awotoye, M Chimenti, B Darbro, LA Ribeiro-Bicudo, SM Dabdoub, T Peter, J Murray, E Van Otterloo, S Rengasamy Venugopalan, LM Moreno-Uribe.  Whole genome sequencing of a family with autosomal dominant features within the oculoauriculovertebral spectrum.  Preprint: doi.org/10.1101/2024.02.07.24301824 

Curtis G (D3)

Curtis G (D3), Weber H, Tran V, Childs C, Shin K, Garaicoa-Pazmino C.  Impact of Non-Surgical and Surgically Assisted Rapid Maxillary Expansion Procedures upon the Periodontium: A Systematic Review. Appl Sci 2024; 14:1669. 

Yeh, JS (D3)

Juardo CA, Yeh, JS (D3), Vidal CMP, Cho, SH, Abuhammoud S. Fracture load of chairside CAD-CAM veneers fabricated with pre-and fully crystalized lithium disilicate ceramics. J Prosthodont 2023; May 7. Doi:10.1111/jopr.13867.

Curtis C (D4)

Curtis C (D4), Fang Q, Bowers R, CPP-ACP paste's effect on salivary conditions in patients with removable dentures. J Prosth. 14 November 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/jopr.13797

Hollinger NC (grad)

Leary, KS, Hollinger NC (grad), Qian F, Kanellis MJ, Weber-Gasparoni K. Comparisons between referred and non-referred patient to a university pediatric dental clinic. Int J Paed Dent. https://doi.org/10.1111/ipd.13203

National Presentations

ACP Conference

(D3) Jackie Yeh presented at the ACP Annual Conference in San Diego, CA October 25-28, 2024.    

Hinman Symposium

(D3) Michael Chavez presented at Hinman Symposium in Memphis, TN November 10-12, 2023.  

AADOCR Annual Meeting

Nineteen students attended and presented at the AADOCR Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA March 13-16, 2024.             

(D2) Madeline Berst, Madison Bradley, Austin Draws, Sydney Fisher, Jessica Grundmeyer, Tyler Jenness, Vi Phan, Jeremiah Poppen, Christina Spencer 
(D3) Olivia Bartholomew, James Beyer, Catherine Branstetter, Carter Coppinger, Garret Curtis, Claire Kettle, Sarah Johnson 
(D4) Luke Hovey, Sara Escudero

AAE Annual Conference

(D3) Zachary Graham presented at the AAE conference in Los Angeles, CA April 17-20 2024.    

ACPA Annual Conference

(D3) Austin Hinkle presented at the ACPA conference in Denver, CO April 9-13, 2024.   

NOHC Annual Conference

(D3) Casey Delaney, Alex Harper, Shannon Havel presented at the NOH conference in St. Louis, MO April 15-17, 2024.

AAPD Annual Conference

(D2) Maya Olson and (D3) Samuel Allen presented at the AAPD conference in Toronto, CA May 23-26, 2024.

2023 Iowa Section of the AADOCR Awards

The 71st Annual Iowa Section of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research was held on Tuesday, February 13.

Thirty students presented:

(D1) Katie McAllister 

(D2) Madeline Berst, Reese Blacker, Madison Bradley, Austin Draws, Sydney Fisher, Jessica Grundmeyer, Tyler Jenness, Vi Phan, Jeremiah Poppen, Maya Olson, Christina Spencer 

(D3) Samuel Allen, Olivia Bartholomew, James Beyer, Catherine Branstetter, Jorge Ceballos, Michael Chavez, Carter Coppinger, Garret Curtis, Casey Delaney, Zachary Graham, Alex Harper, Shannon Havel, Austin Hinkle, Claire Kettle, Mallory Obenauf, Jackie Yeh

(D4) Colton Curtis, Sara Escudero

Judges evaluated each submission for each category and determined the award winners based on the quality of the research and the presentation. These awards represent the exciting research that students, staff, and visitors are conducting and presenting.

Picture of Student

Carter Coppinger (D3)

AADOCR Student Research Day Award

Austin Hinkle

Austin Hinkle (D3)

OKU MU Award
1st Place

Austin Draws

Austin Draws

OKU MU Award
2nd Place

Vi Phan

Vi Phan (D2)

Max Smith Pre-Doctoral Competition
1st Place
 

Austin Hinkle

Austin Hinkle (D3)

Max Smith Pre-Doctoral Competition
2nd Place

Colton Curtis

Colton Curtis (D4)

Max Smith Pre-Doctoral Competition
3rd Place

Michael Chavez

Michael Chavez (D3)

P&G Competition
1st Place

Olivia Bartholomew

Olivia Bartholomew (D3)

P&G Competition
2nd Place

Claire Campbell

Claire Kettle (D3)

P&G Competition
3rd Place

Madison Bradley

Madison Bradley

ADA Table Clinics Competition (Predoctoral)
1st Place

Catherine Branstetter

Catherine Branstetter (D3)

ADA Table Clinics Competition (Predoctoral)
2nd Place
 

Jorge Ceballos

Jorge Ceballos (D3)

ADA Table Clinics Competition (Predoctoral)
3rd Place

Sara Saey

Sara Escudero (D4)

Bernstein Award for Health Policy

Jessica Grundmeyer

Jessica Grundmeyer

James S. Wefel Pediatric Dentistry Predoctoral Competition Award
 

Casey Delaney

Casey Delaney (D3)

Office for Access, Opportunity and Diversity
1st Place

Looking Forward to Next Academic Year

Forty-four student research proposals were funded for the 2024-2025 school year. 

2024 Officers for Student Research Group

2024-2025 Student Research Program Officers

President: Olivia Bartholomew (D4)
Vice-President: Vi Phan (D3)
Secretary/Treasurer: Austin Draws (D3)
D4 Representatives: Zach Graham (D4)
D3 Representative: Jeremiah Poppen (D3)
D2 Representative: Elected in fall (D2)
D1 Representative: Elected in the fall (D1)