Lab Research and MICRO Partnership Highlighted in UARK Newsletter
A brief news story highlighting the impact of the MICRO Facility was published by University Relations in the UARK Newsletter. The story mentions MICRO’s partnership with the Dental Phenomics Laboratory; this includes two 2024 Arkansas Biosciences Institute grants awarded to MICRO, on which Kathleen Paul was listed as co-PI. The full article can be found here.
Invited Deciduous Dental Symposium Selected for 2025 AABA Meetings
An invited symposium proposed by Emily Moes (University of New Mexico, University of St. Francis) and Kathleen Paul was recently accepted for the 2025 meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists in Baltimore, MD. This event titled “Little Teeth, Big Picture: Contributions of Deciduous Dentitions Across Biological Anthropology” will review the ways in which child dentitions enrich our understanding of the human experience, past and present.
The symposium will bring together dental experts from across the globe. The AABA has contributed $2,000 in support to assist with international participant travel.
September 2024
Morphology Workshop Selected for 2025 SAR Short Seminar
A workshop proposed by Kathleen Paul and Emily Moes (University of New Mexico, University of St. Francis) was recently accepted for a 2025 Short Seminar by the School for Advanced Research. This event titled “Achieving a Unified Deciduous Morphology System” will focus on developing and enhancing data collection methods to better incorporate information from child dentitions into applied research.
The three-day seminar will bring together ten dental morphology experts from across the globe at the SAR campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The event will be held in April of 2025.
August 2024
New Paper Published in Anatomical Record
In a study published in Anatomical Record, recent graduate Tess McCrary (now a dental student at University of Tennessee Health Science Center) presents the results of her honors thesis work. This study, completed under the supervision of PI Paul, approaches the topic of identical twin “mirroring”, when features of one co-twin’s left side are mirrored in the other co-twin’s right side and vice-versa. The authors look to dental morphology and consider the hypothesis that “mirroring” is the result of delayed zygote division in identical twin pregnancies. The paper can be accessed here.
August 2024
New Evo-Devo Paper Published in PLOS ONE
In a recent study published in PLOS ONE, PI Paul and collaborators at University of Nevada-Reno and Arizona State University examine an evolutionary-developmental model and associated predictions surrounding molar morphology and cusp formation. The paper can be accessed here.
June 2024
New NSF Award Highlighted in UARK Newsletter
A brief news story on Dr. Paul’s NSF Award was published by University Relations in the UARK Newsletter. The full article can be found here.
May 2024
Taylor Seupaul Presents at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
Lab member and Anthropology Honors Student Taylor Seupaul successfully defended her thesis this spring. She then went on to share her research entitled “Biological Relationships at Pre-Colonial Tlatelolco as Reconstructed from Adult Tooth Size” at the 2024 University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Symposium. Well done, Taylor!
April 2024
NSF Awards $630,000 to PI Paul and Collaborators
Kathleen Paul (PI) and NYU collaborators Susan Antón and Alejandra Ortiz (Co-PIs) were awarded $630,444 for their project “Testing the Genetic Impact on the Internal and External Shape of Teeth in Non-Human Primates.”
This study will use data generated at UARK’s MICRO Facility to examine the morphology of tooth crowns at the outer enamel surface and at the enamel-dentin junction (EDJ).
For more information, see the abstract for NSF Award BCS-2341544.
April 2024
Molly Militello Awarded the Turner/CUP Poster Prize from the DAA
Lab member and Anthropology MA student Molly Militello was awarded the Christy G. Turner II – Cambridge University Press Student Poster Prize by the Dental Anthropology Association. This award is reserved for the best student posters presented at the meetings of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists. Molly’s poster summarized the results of her successfully defended MA Thesis, titled “The Role of the Patterning Cascade Model in Human Premolar Variation.” Molly’s award includes vouchers for Cambridge University Press books. We are so impressed, Molly!
March 2024
Lab Members Present at the AABA Meetings in Los Angeles
Dental Phenomics Lab members were listed as authors on four abstracts at the 2024 meeting of the Association for Biological Anthropologists, held in Los Angeles. This included two posters and two podium presentations!
Way to go team!
March 2024
Meutia Hanafiah Featured in UARK Newsletter
Lab member and PhD student Meutia Hanafiah was recently featured in a news story celebrating her P.E.O. International Peace Fellowship. The award provides funding to international women pursuing graduate degrees in the U.S. and Canada to foster global peace through education. The full news story can be found here.
Way to go, Meutia! You are amazing!
August 2024
Congrats to Our Graduating Lab Members
Molly Militello successfully defended her thesis and graduated with her MA in Anthropology. She plans to pursue veterinary school and improve the lives of many sweet cats.
William Range graduated with a BA in Biology and will soon begin his studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Dentistry.
Taylor Seupaul graduated with a BS in Anthropology and will next tackle a one-year program in Public Health before starting medical school at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences the following year.
We will miss them, but we cannot wait to hear of their success on their respective career paths.
May 2024
Meutia Hanafiah Awarded the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund (IPS) provides scholarships for women from other countries for graduate study in the U.S. or Canada.
We are so proud of you, Meutia!
April 2024
Lab Members Honored at Award Ceremony
Honors student Taylor Seupaul and Advisor Kathleen Paul were honored at a year-end ceremony sponsored by the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. Taylor was honored for her Student Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) Grant and Kathleen was presented with an Outstanding Mentor Award.
April 2024
Paul Becomes President-Elect of the DAA
Kathleen Paul was appointed to the position of President-Elect of the Dental Anthropology Association. The DAA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which seeks to stimulate interest in dental anthropology, a subfield of biological anthropology.
Kathleen will hold this position for one year before assuming the role of DAA President. She is looking forward to serving the organization.
April 2024
PI Paul Recognized for Mentorship Training
Kathleen Paul was recognized for completion of the Faculty Mentoring Graduate Student Workshop Series, sponsored by the Office of Faculty Affairs. She was presented with a certificate at a reception and ceremony held during Faculty Appreciation Week.
April 2024
Wrapping Up Another Busy Fall Semester
The lab held our final meeting of the fall 2024 semester, with excellent presentations by honors students Tyler, Ava, and Lacey. Thanks to everyone who made these last few months exciting and productive.
The Dental Phenomics Lab wishes everyone a restful holiday break and a happy start to 2025!
December 2024
Paul and Collaborators Participate in NYU’s College and Career Lab
Collaborators on an NSF-funded project focused on macaque dentitions recently teamed up to offer science outreach lectures and hands-on laboratory activities to ~60 students from across New York City. These efforts were part of NYU’s College and Career Lab, which offers underserved public middle school students the opportunity to explore a variety of academic pathways and ‘try on’ careers.
PI Paul returned to her alma mater and teamed up with research partners at NYU, as well as several who traveled from the Caribbean Primate Research Center (Puerto Rico) to administer learning activities centered around the Cayo Santiago macaque colony. Students walked away with a better understanding of the field of biological anthropology and (we hope) were inspired to pursue opportunities in STEM!
July 2024
UARK Students Attend AIDT Meetings
Members of the NW Arkansas Chapter of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Dentofacial Therapy have kindly invited predental undergraduate and dental anthropology graduate students to attend their monthly meetings.
Last month, three predents and one grad student attended and listened to case consultations, sat in on demonstrations, and networked with local clinicians. This opportunity will be open to students each month using a sign-up form distributed through the Predental Studies Listserv. For more information, email kspaul@uark.edu.
June 2024
We’ve Moved!
The Dental Phenomics Laboratory recently relocated to a new space in Old Main 111. Thank you to our lab members and Paleoethnobotany Lab members who assisted with the move.
May 2024
Congratulations on Another Successful Year!
The lab held our final meeting of the 2023-2024 academic year. Thanks to everyone who made this a productive year. Best of luck to Will, Taylor, and Molly who will all be moving onto their respective health professions programs in the coming year!
May 2024
PI Paul Visits OVAL at UT Knoxville
Kathleen Paul traveled to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to conduct pilot research with the Oak Ridge small primate collections.
She also met with Dr. Benjamin Auerbach and members of OVAL (Organismal Variation Analysis Lab) to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
Thanks to OVAL and the SEC Faculty Travel Grant Program for this opportunity!
November 2023
Lab Members Present at NWA AIDT Meeting
PhD student Meutia Hanafiah and PI Kathleen Paul participated in the monthly meeting of the NWA Academy of Interdisciplinary Dentofacial Therapy. Meutia spoke about her experience as a practicing dentist in Indonesia, as well as her current research on palatal rugae. Kathleen spoke about ongoing projects in the lab.
Thanks for having us, AIDT!
September 2023
See the News Archive for older stories.