Author: Ashley Laster | Major: Biology | Semester: Spring 2025

Hi my name is Ashley Laster, and I am a biology major also pursuing a Spanish minor on the pre-dental track. In March, I attended the 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABAs) in Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout college, research has been a huge part of my academic journey. Under the guidance of Dr. Terhune, I have been researching antemortem tooth loss (i.e., tooth loss before death) in humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees and how it relates to craniofacial shape.

Presenting my Poster

When I arrived in Baltimore, I knew I was in for an exciting week. The AABAs conference gathers researchers from all over the world to discuss and present topics in biological anthropology, and I was thrilled to be part of it. On Wednesday night, I presented my poster at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. I explained my findings on tooth loss trends in primates and humans to professors, researchers, and fellow students. At first, I was nervous—but as I started discussing my work, I realized how welcoming and engaged everyone was. I received amazing feedback, including new perspectives on how craniofacial structure might be influencing these trends. It was incredibly validating to see others take an interest in my research and offer thoughtful insights that could help shape my future studies and viewpoints on my study.

After my presentation, I spent the rest of the week attending various presentations and poster sessions. I was particularly excited about sessions related to dental research, such as tooth wear analysis and enamel protein studies—topics directly related to my future in dentistry. It was eye-opening to see how anthropology and dentistry overlap in ways I had not fully considered before. I also met other researchers who were pursuing a career in dental anthropology at these sessions or planning on going to dental school next year.
At the conference, I met so many incredible people, from faculty members at different universities to students. I also had the chance to connect with fellow students from the University of Arkansas, which made the experience even more special. I loved the connectiveness of the University of Arkansas at the conference. Every time there was a student or faculty member presenting, our group would go to their poster session or presentation. It was so encouraging and furthered my appreciation for the University of Arkansas. I was also very grateful to connect with researchers I had previously collaborated with on my project. They gave me helpful feedback on my project to contribute to the conciseness of the overall project.

If you are a student considering attending or presenting at a research conference, here’s my advice: just go for it. Yes, it’s nerve-wracking at first, but the experience is absolutely worth it. Presenting helps build confidence, and the feedback you receive can be incredibly valuable. Plus, conferences like AABAs provide a rare opportunity to dive deep into specialized topics and connect with experts in your field. Also, don’t forget to explore sessions outside your direct area of research—you never know what might spark a new interest or idea!
Next up for me is presenting my honors thesis in April, then graduating and heading to dental school in July. My experience at the AABAs has reinforced my passion for research and solidified my commitment to the dental field. I’m so grateful to the Honors College for supporting my research and giving me the opportunity to attend conferences like this. This trip was an unforgettable step in my academic journey, and I can’t wait to see where research takes me next!