Dental Student Research Program

The Dental Student Research Program provides exceptional dental students with experience in research. Three sources of funds are currently available for this purpose: the Dows Student Research Fellowship, the NIDCR Student Research Traineeship, and the Iowa Dental Research Grant.

Since 1996, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics has ranked ten times as one of the top three dental schools in the number of presentations at the annual American Association for Dental Research (AADR) meetings, and three times the College of Dentistry has ranked number one.

The Student Research Group (SRG) is the local chapter of the American Association of Dental Research, uniting students interested in dental research. The organization promotes student research and helps students become better acquainted with current dental research. With faculty mentorship, students plan and carry out research projects, many of which are presented at national and international meetings.

The SRG elects officers who organize and host meetings and social functions. each year, one officer attends the annual meeting to vote in national elections and bring back information concerning dental research. Students also can run for and hold national offices.

Research

The opportunity to conduct research with faculty mentors is a major reason why students choose to attend the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. Whether examining patients for dental-related stress or evaluating the response of cultured cells to implant materials, students are furthering dental knowledge daily at Iowa.

The Dows Institute for Dental Research at the College of Dentistry is a highly respected dental research organization. Research at the institute 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 Dows researcher holds an appointment in a clinical department of the College of Dentistry. Clinical faculty, in turn, collaborate on research projects centered in the Dows laboratories. Although Dows faculty devote a substantial portion of their time to research, they also share teaching and patient care responsibilities with clinical faculty.