The grant enables Professor Spatafora and her students to continue work on developing a compound that could block the formation of dental cavities and improve oral health. Read the full newsroom article here.

“I often find myself living vicariously through my students,” said Spatafora. “They have gone on to earn MDs, PhDs, or both, and many of them have published their research in prestigious scientific journals such as Cell, Nature, and Science, publications where my work has not appeared. Some of my students are on the faculty at colleges and universities, and I often meet up with them at scientific conferences. I love the combination of teaching and research, but ultimately what motivates me in the lab is my students, and witnessing their development as independent scientists while at Middlebury and beyond.”

Grace Spatafora speaks with Sunho Park ’18, a member of her research team. Spatafora is one of only 13 faculty members at small liberal arts institutions nationwide to earn an NIH RO1 grant.

Congratulations Professor Spatafora!