The Dental Student Research Program

The Dental Student Research Program provides several sources of research program opportunities for students. A student research awardee will learn about a specific research area and gain experience in working with a laboratory team, a dentist scientist, and/or a faculty mentor who has achieved recognition as a contributing member of the scientific community. Awardees are encouraged to present their research at the annual meeting of the Iowa Section of the AADR, the annual AADR/IADR meetings, or other specialty meetings. More information about the Student Research Group is available.

Research at the College reflects the complex nature of today's health care needs. Many different approaches are employed, ranging from tissue culture or biochemical analysis to the exploration of new treatment modalities. Each collegiate researcher holds an appointment in a clinical department of the College of Dentistry. Clinical faculty, in turn, collaborate on research projects centered in the collegiate laboratories. Although collegiate faculty devote a substantial portion of their time to research, they also share teaching and patient care responsibilities with clinical faculty.

Scholarships, awarded each year to qualified entering dental students, provide financial support for as many as four years, as long as an appropriate level of performance is maintained.

Administration
The Dental Student Research Program is directed by Dr. Janet Guthmiller, associate professor in the Dows Institute for Dental Research and the Department of Periodontics. Dr. John Warren, associate professor in the Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, supports the program as assistant director. Ms. Sharon Seydel, program associate, assists in coordinating activities through the Office of Dental Student Research.

Research Funding Opportunities for Students
Started in 1987, the Dental Research Award (DRA) program provides a stipend to exceptional freshmen who are interested in research. Students work with mentors throughout their four years at the College of Dentistry. DRA recipients are required to enroll and maintain enrollment in the Honors Research Course (112:190). The program averages 40 students per year across the classes. Students with a DRA are not eligible to compete for either the NIDCR award or the Dows award.

Dows Student Research Award
The Dows Student Research Fellowship program, initiated in 1979, is the oldest student research training program in the College. The Student Research Committee awards stipends and small supply budgets in the spring of each year to students presenting meritorious mentor-guided research proposals. Competition for the Dows award is open to all dental students.

Dental Research Award (DRA)
Started in 1987, the Dental Research Award (DRA) program provides a stipend to exceptional freshmen with an interest in research. The minimum review standards are a grade-point average of 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for all previous college work and a minimum score of 17 on the Total Science portion of the Dental Admissions Test. Teaching Awards are determined on an individual basis. Students work with mentors throughout their four years in the College of Dentistry. DRA recipients are required to enroll and maintain enrollment in the Honors Research Course (112:190). The program averages 40 students per year across the classes. Students with a DRA are not eligible to compete for either the NIDCR award or the Dows award. Applicants for these scholarships must have an on-campus interview. Contact the College of Dentistry Office of Student Affairs for further details.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Summer Research Traineeship
Since 1985, student research has been supported by a NIDCR Students in Health Professional Schools Short-Term Training Grant. Funding from this source supports awards for a three-month summer research experience. The Traineeship carries a stipend and small supply budget and must be funded between May and September. Applicants for this award must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Competition is open to all dental students and proposals are selected by the Student Dental Research Committee each spring.

Current student/faculty research includes:

• impact of stress on the immune system in relation to the occurrence of cold sores
• the effects of laser irradiation on the dentin and root of the tooth
• whether the herpes virus can spread to the central nervous system through an exposed nerve
• the development of a culture model to examine how soft tissues react with implant surfaces
• comparison of the use of glycerine and water as media for placing calcium hydroxide in simulated root canals
• the relationship between fear of dental procedures and superficial social processing
• correlation of a clinical diagnosis of temporomandibular joint problems with what can be seen through imaging techniques and arthroscopy
• why dental implant screws can loosen during use
• clinical perceptions of dental educators concerning factors related to the treatment of HIV patients in the Midwest
• the fracture resistance of teeth with bonded amalgams
• the effectiveness of two different medications in the treatment of oral candida infections

For more information contact Dr. Janet Guthmiller