Student wins national public policy fellowship
Getting involved in national dental associations can be a great way for students to increase knowledge and build professional networks. For second year DDS/PhD student Lauren Kress, who has been a member of the National Student Research Group (NSRG) for the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), that involvement has also introduced her to national-level research and advocacy opportunities. She was recently named as the 2025-2026 AADOCR Gert Quigley Government Affairs Fellow, a national fellowship awarded to a single student each year.
“I’m incredibly honored,” Kress said. “As we navigate an uncertain future, I’m eager to be a part of the conversation surrounding dental research and oral health initiatives.” This public policy fellowship is designed to familiarize graduate-level students with the federal legislative process for dental, oral and craniofacial research and the oral health care delivery system. It includes an eight-week fellowship in Washington, DC, a stipend and two additional trips back to DC. She will serve a one-year term on the AADOCR’s Government Affairs Committee, also serving as government affairs liaison for the National Student Research Group.
During her time in the capital, Kress will learn about federal policymaking, work on projects to advance AADOCR policy priorities and meet with members of the scientific research and public health communities. Her interest in public policy has been fueled by our current climate. “With the rise of misinformation surrounding once-celebrated public health endeavors, such as community water fluoridation, I want to learn how to effectively communicate science with diverse audiences to promote research awareness and advocate for evidence-based initiatives," she said.
She learned about the fellowship through her work as Midwest representative for the NSRG. “I was eager to pursue more of a leadership role within the organization, and the Gert Quigley Fellowship seemed like a great opportunity to not only be more engaged with the NSRG, but also to explore my interest in advocacy and expand my professional connections,” Kress said.
Right now, she’s a second-year DDS/PhD student in the Lima Lab at the School of Dentistry. “My research interests include understanding the role of transcriptional regulation and post-translational modification of proteins on the ability of the oral pioneer colonizers to form biofilms and lay the foundation for dental plaque formation,” she said.
She’s looking forward to what lies ahead as a Gert Quigley Government Affairs fellow. “I’m hoping it will play an essential role in preparing me for a public-facing career in academic dentistry, where I aim to be a trusted voice for those in my community,” Kress said. “I hope that engaging with dental health policy leaders and legislators will help me bridge the gap between scientific research and actionable health policy for the benefit of future patients, clinicians and researchers.”