Department of Oral Biology

Key Personnel

Director
Paulette Spencer D.D.S., Ph.D.
Curators' Professor
Hamilton B.G. Robinson Professor
Departments of Oral Biology and Pediatric Dentistry
Director, UMKC Center for Research on Interfacial Structure & Properties (UMKC-CRISP)
UMKC School of Dentistry
Phone: 816-235-2071 Fax: 816-235-5524
E-Mail: spencerp@umkc.edu
Personal webpage

Paulette Spencer D.D.S., Ph.D., Curators’ Professor and the Hamilton B. G. Robinson Professor, is the Director of the UMKC Center for Research on Interfacial Structure and Properties (UMKC-CRISP). She performs research in the area of biomaterials with a particular focus on chemical, mechanical and morphologic characterization of reactions occurring at the material/tissue interface. The efforts in her lab are closely aligned with clinical problems associated with the application and utilization of synthetic materials in the reconstruction of damaged and/or diseased calcified tissues. Dr. Spencer’s professional experience and education in materials engineering, physics and dental sciences provide the background for her interdisciplinary research program. Her research program has been continuously supported by grants from the university, industry and the National Institutes of Health for the past 15+ years. Dr. Spencer has been awarded several distinguished teaching awards in recognition of her commitment and dedication to student education. She serves on many grant review panels for various government agencies and on the editorial boards of several journals. Dr. Spencer is a member of numerous societies including the Society of Biomaterials and a Fellow in the American College of Dentists, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Academy of Dental Materials and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Co-Director
Anil Misra, Ph.D.
Professor of Civil Engineering
School of Computing and Engineering,
University of Missouri-Kansas City
350H Flarsheim Hall
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499 USA
Voice: 816 235-1285
Fax: 816 235-11260
Email: misraa@umkc.edu
Personal webpage

Anil Misra, Professor, Civil Engineering, UMKC School of Computing and Engineering received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India in 1985, a M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1988 and 1991, respectively. Dr. Misra has a broad research interest that spans topics covering both basic and applied aspects of civil engineering, particularly, engineering mechanics, materials and geotechnical engineering. His research topics have included: analytical, computational and experimental micro-mechanics of geo-materials; soil thermal properties; soil stabilization using coal combustion products; application of numerical methods in geotechnical design and analysis, and analysis and design of micropiles. He is also strongly interested in interdisciplinary research in the areas of mechanics of particulate materials and material/tissue interfaces. His research has been funded by a variety of sources including governmental agencies and private industry. He is active in various professional societies serving on a number of society technical committees and as a reviewer for journal articles and grant proposals. He has also provided consulting service to the industry on technical issues.

Co-Director
Yong Wang Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Oral Biology
UMKC Center for Research on Interfacial Structure & Properties (UMKC-CRISP)
UMKC School of Dentistry
Phone: 816-235-2043 Fax: 816-235-5524
E-mail: wangyo@umkc.edu
Personal webpage

Yong Wang, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral Biology and a co-director of UMKC Center for Research on Interfacial Structure and Properties (UMKC-CRISP). He performs research in the fields of synthetic materials and biomaterials and their interfaces with calcified tissues. Dr. Wang is a member of numerous societies including American Chemical Society, International and American Associations for Dental Research. He serves on editorial board of the Journal of Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering.

Chairman of the Department
J. David Eick, Ph.D.
Curators' Professor and Chair
Department of Oral Biology, UMKC
816-235-2067
fax: 816-235-5524
E-mail: eickj@umkc.edu
Personal webpage

J. David Eick, Ph.D., Curators’ Professor and Chairman, Department of Oral Biology, UMKC School of Dentistry, research interests are largely in the area of characterization and development of novel dental materials. Dr. Eick has received numerous research awards and recognition for his work. In 1997 he received a Faculty Fellowship Award from the University of Kansas City Board of Trustees. He was the recipient in 2004 of the Wilmer Souder Award in Biomaterials. This award is the oldest distinguished scientist award presented by the International Association for Dental Research. Dr. Eick's research interests are largely in the area of dental biomaterials and are extremely interdisciplinary in nature; involving surface chemistry, toxicology, mechanical and biomedical engineering, and polymer chemistry. Dr. Eick has also received distinguished teaching awards in recognition of his commitment to his students. His research activities have been continuously supported by grants from the university, industry and the National Institutes of Health throughout his distinguished career. Current funded research projects include a NIH/NIDCR Program Project Grant: Improved Polymeric Restoratives Through Molecular Design, a Ph.D. training grant: Biomaterials Training for Dentists-UMKC, and a 3M Company Post-Doctoral Support Training Grant: Pre and Post Doctoral Training, UMKC School of Dentistry.

Electron Microscopy
Laboratory Manager
Vladimir M. Dusevich, Ph.D.
Electron Microscope Lab Manager
3127 School of Dentistry
650 E. 25th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108-2784
Phone: (816) 235-2072
Fax: (816) 235-5524
Web: http://www.umkc.edu/dentistry/microscopy

Vladimir Dusevich, Ph.D., Electron Microscopy Laboratory manager, Dept. of Oral Biology UMKC School of Dentistry. He performs research in the field of electron microscopy with a focus on mineralized tissue morphology and materials/dentin interface. Dr. Dusevich is a member of the Microscopy Society of America and Central States Microscopy and Microanalysis Society.

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