4 minute read
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.
Jiahui Li D’22
SCADA Award Recipient
COVID-19 has definitely taught me to appreciate research more than I already do, not only because all the information we know about this novel virus comes from research, but it also made me realize that being able to conduct in-person research project is such a luxury. When the pandemic first happened, I was not expecting to have any in-person research experience in 2020. Luckily, Penn Dental has done an amazing job restarting its research operations since we re-opened, and has been super supportive of students coming back to not only clinical operations but research activities as well. I know this is a tough decision and requires a lot of regulations and caution. So I really appreciate this opportunity to interact with research subjects and our lovely research team in-person.
Nitika Gupta
AADR Travel Award Recipient
One of the largest factors that motivates me to continue research is my mentor, Dr. Sahingur. Although Dr. Sahingur has an abundance of responsibilities, she never forgets about her mentees. She has encouraged me to seize opportunities I would have never imagined such as applying for fellowships and participating in conferences. Dr. Sahingur invested her time in enhancing my education so that I become a well-rounded researcher and clinician. I am thankful to have a caring, inspiring, and successful mentor like Dr. Sahingur.
Michael Cimba
AADR Travel Award Recipient
My favorite aspect of research would be the collaborative aspect. Being someone who played many team sports, working in a tight-knit group and being able to bounce ideas off one another makes the entire process more enjoyable. Some projects may take months to see the light of day, but knowing that my peers and I put countless hours in allows for a very rewarding process. The most challenging aspect of research would have to be the brainstorming of ideas. Some ideas may appear to be stronger than others, but you truly do not know if a topic is worth digging into until you fully immerse yourself in it. When the topic is interesting and yields significant data, however, the process becomes extremely rewarding.