STUDENT INTERVIEWS Andrew Tsai D’23
Summer Research Student My name is Andrew Tsai and I’m a D2 student who participated in the Summer Research Program last year. As a member of the Seven-Year Bio-Dental Program, I had my first research experience in undergrad where I worked with Dr. Takako Tanaka in the Department of Oral Medicine on a project that examined the relationship between emergency departments and dental school emergency clinics. For my summer research, I worked with Dr. Helen Jeon in the Orthodontics Department on a critical review titled “Mechanistic Insight into Orthodontic Tooth Movement Based on Animal Studies”. While the two projects may have little in common besides the field of dentistry, they were valuable to me because they exposed me to interesting different facets of the research process. As someone entered dental school with little research experience, I learned that, although research may seem daunting or one-dimensional, there are many ways to contribute and derive value from projects. From project inception and conceptualization to data collection to the literature review, my experience so far allowed me to discover and develop my areas of strength in research. Moreover, my positive experiences built upon one another, and even opened the door to new opportunities. For one, my exposure to clinical research in undergrad was instrumental in helping me secure my next research opportunity – the Clinical Research Honors program. I am tremendously excited to see where this next project takes me, or maybe, even where I take this next project.
Matthew Rose D’22
AADR Student Research Day Award Recipient If you would have told me one year ago I would be where I am today, I would have said you have the wrong guy. In my undergraduate education, I distanced myself from research, and carried that same attitude into dental school. It was not until I began speaking with Dr. Panchal and Dr. Ford of the OMS department that they painted research in a different light. They suggested that research at its purest form was contributing to the field they love for the benefit of their friends, colleagues and most importantly the patients. From there I began reaching out to upperclassmen for advice and searching for projects to contribute to in any capacity. As I grew to know the rhythm and style of academic research I began taking on projects of my own. The first paper I wrote independently was a case report, which on the hierarchy of academic research is on the lower end of the spectrum. This first paper however served as a jumping-off point for my further works as I gained confidence in scientific writing and the publication process. Penn Dental has made high-level research incredibly accessible and achievable to any and all students looking to explore the world of dentistry through the lens of creativity, innovation and discovery.
10 EXPLORER . SPRING 2021
