Taylor Austin, second-year College of Dentistry student, is a recipient of the 2016 American Association for Dental Research (AADR) Student Research Fellowship. The fellowship consists of a flat $2,100 stipend and $600 for travel expenses. She will also receive a $2,900 supplement from the UI Dental Student Research Program.

Austin presented her research, "Streptococcus Sobrinus Genotyping in American Indian Mother-Child Pairs," during the February Local Research Day at the College of Dentistry and at the March AADR meeting in Los Angeles. David Drake, dental research and endodontics, is Austin's mentor.

The prestigious award is supported by AADR and also major dental industry corporations. Applicants who are first-, second- or third-year dental students may apply. Typically, 20 fellowships are funded annually. The stipend supports the student's research, which must be completed within two years and presented at the AADR annual meeting.