Stieber Named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholar

Ann Arbor, MI — April 29, 2009 — For the second time in five years, a student from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry has been selected as one of 42 students from across the nation to participate in the National Institutes of Health’s prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholars Program.

Jane Stieber, who recently completed her third year of dental studies, will participate in the year-long program beginning in July. Established in 1985, the program gives outstanding students at U.S. medical and dental schools an opportunity to spend a year on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland conducting basic, translational, or applied biomedical research under the direct mentorship of a senior NIH research scientist. Students can choose a mentor from more than 1,200 tenured or tenure-track intramural scientists working on more than 2,500 research projects.

In addition to pursuing her classroom and clinical education, Stieber works in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Polverini, dean of the School of Dentistry, assisting in cancer research, specifically, angiogenesis.

“I want to take full advantage of this one year, once in a lifetime opportunity to decide if I want to pursue a career in research after earning my dental degree,” she said. “Although I have been involved in cancer research, I plan to be flexible and keep an open mind because I may discover when I’m there that there may be another area that might interest me even more.”

Before traveling to Bethesda for an interview, Stieber participated in a mock interview at the dental school with Polverini; Dr. Charlotte Mistretta, associate dean for Research and PhD Training; and Dr. Paul Krebsbach, chair of the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences. “Their questions and comments about my responses helped me to improve my replies,” she said.

Participating in the one-year program will delay Stieber’s graduation plans until 2011. “I don’t mind it, however, because I hope my experiences will inspire others to seize opportunities like this to better themselves. One can only do this specific program while they’re a student in a dental, medical, or veterinary program, so, in reality, it’s now or never,” she said.

A native of Boyne City, Michigan, Stieber came to the School of Dentistry after earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Northern Michigan University in Marquette. She was one of only ten students to receive and accept a full-tuition, full-room and board scholarship even though she was offered admission for undergraduate studies at U-M and Michigan State. At Northern Michigan, she was a member of the university’s cross-country varsity team and participated in two NCAA Division II championship tournaments. She has run in the Boston Marathon, the Detroit Marathon, and two Bayshore marathons in Traverse City.

The first student from the U-M School of Dentistry to be chosen for the program was Karen Likar in 2004.