This annual competition took place in February, 2020, but announcement of the results was postponed until now.
These awards are announced annually as part of the Pitt Dental Medicine Research Symposium held each year in May, which was postponed this year.
Please join us in congratulating the following outstanding Pitt Dental Medicine students on their research achievements.
Dr. Alexandre R. Vieira
Director of Student Research
SCADA and Dentsply Sirona Student Clinician Program Award
Yejin Ki
DMD class of 2023
Faculty mentor: Dr. Charles Sfeir
"An Immunomodulatory Strategy for Treating Murine Periodontitis"
Support to participate in the 2021 IADR/AADR meeting in Boston, Ma., in June, 2021.
The recipient’s name will be engraved on a plaque in the School of Dental Medicine near the Office of Research.
Hinman Student Research Symposium Competition
Nadine Robert
Oral Biology PhD Student
Faculty mentor: Dr. Heather Szabo-Rogers
"Role of Prickle1 in Ciliogenesis and Localization of Sonic Hedgehog Components"
Support to attend the competitive national research symposium at the University of Tennessee in November, 2020 (this year’s event may be held virtually).
AADR Local Pittsburgh Chapter Award
Victoria Lee
Pitt Dental Medicine Resident Department of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics
Faculty mentor: Dr. Heather Szabo-Rogers
"Relationship Between Cranial Base Development and Cleft Lip and Palate in Prickle1 Beetlejuice Mutant"
This award recognizes outstanding clinical or basic science research by a predoctoral, dental hygiene or graduate student. The recipient’s name will be engraved on a plaque outside the Learning Resource Center.
School of Dental Medicine Awards (Dr. O. Jack Penhall Awards)
First Place
Caroline Littlejohn
DMD class of 2022
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexandre R. Vieira
"Kidney Disease, Increased Body Mass Indexes, and Anterior Teeth Treatment Needs"
Note: Caroline Littlejohn has published her research in the scientific literature.
Second Place
Nicole Fiamoncini
DMD class of 2021
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexandre R. Vieira
"Visual Aids Needed to Enhance Student’s Understanding of Dental Procedures"
Third Place
Vera Liu
DMD class of 2021
Faculty mentor: Dr. Michael Dobos
"Effect of Enamel Beveling on Marginal Discoloration for Class V Composite Restorations"
This award recognizes outstanding clinical-science research by a dental student. It was initiated by Dr. O. Jack Penhall (DMD ’73) former National ADA Student Research Judge and recently retired from private practice in Greensburg, Pa. (cash award).
ASDA awards
First Place
Jacob Jakielaszek
DMD class of 2023
Faculty mentor: Dr. Juan Taboas
"Acellular Hydrogel Regenerates Vascularized Fibrous Tissue in Extricated Canals and Mineralized Tissue on Shaped Canal Walls"
Second Place
Parul Ahuja
Oral Biology MS student
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexandre R Vieira
"MMP2, Saliva pH and Dental Treatment Needs"
Third Place
Jin Xu
DMD class of 2022
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexandre R. Vieira
"Analysis of Tooth Morphology in Individuals with Cleft Lip/Palate and Tooth Agenesis"
This award recognizes an outstanding clinical or basic science research by a dental student (cash award).
Thanks to generous support from Dr. Bernard J. Costello III, Dean, School of Dental Medicine
Judging panel
Alejandro Almarza, Juan Taboas, Ricardo Castro, Vicente Telles, Carolyn Serio, Flavius Tomeci, Shahriar Riazi