Jessica Scoffield, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, as the first recipient of the AADR Procter and Gamble Underrepresented Faculty Research Fellowship. Scoffield was recognized at the Opening Ceremonies of the 97th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), held in conjunction with the 48th Annual Meeting of the AADR and the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR). The IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition is held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West Building in Vancouver, BC, Canada from June 19-22, 2019.
Scoffield is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. She is a microbiologist that studies the role of commensal bacteria in polymicrobial pulmonary and oral infections. Scoffield's research has led to the discovery of novel mechanisms used by commensal bacteria that interfere with the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multidrug resistant pathogen that causes deadly lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. The goal of her lab is to identify and characterize anti-infective strategies used by commensal bacteria and use this knowledge to develop improved therapeutics that are active against recalcitrant bacterial species.
"The goal of this fellowship is to support researchers from under-represented racial and ethnic groups at the early stages of their scientific careers and to increase representation of these under-represented groups at the faculty level in science and academia," said AADR President Maria Ryan. "The AADR is proud to announce that Jessica Scoffield is the first recipient of the AADR Procter and Gamble Under-represented Faculty Research Fellowship, and we thank P&G Professional Oral Health, Crest Oral-B for making this Fellowship possible."
Recipients will receive $10,000 that must be put towards their post-doctoral research, establishment of their laboratories, the completion of a research project or preparing research for publication or grant submission. The Fellowship is supported by P&G Professional Oral Health, Crest Oral-B.
###
About the American Association for Dental Research
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with nearly 3,400 individual members dedicated to: (1) advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health, (2) supporting and representing the oral health research community, and (3) facilitating the communication and application of research findings. AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). To learn more, visit http://www.iadr.org/aadr.