PROF, ASOC - Erin Bumann
Erin Bumann DDS PhD MSbumanne@umkc.edu
Ever wonder how your jaw and skull know exactly how to grow during development — and what happens when they don’t?
Roughly 2–3% of babies are born with skull and jaw anomalies like cleft lip/palate or tiny lower jaws. These conditions often require multiple invasive surgeries starting in infancy, with no guaranteed long-term fix. At the UMKC School of Dentistry, our lab studies how the bones of the face form during early development — and what goes wrong when they don’t.
Our goal? To uncover the root causes of these facial birth defects and design less invasive, more effective therapies that could change lives. If you're fascinated by embryology, bone biology, genetics, or regenerative medicine, come join us! You’ll get hands-on experience with cutting-edge research and help us explore how to support babies born with craniofacial differences — from basic science to better care.
As part of our research team, you’ll get hands-on experience working side-by-side with a lab member who’ll help you learn the ropes. You’ll learn how to keep a real lab notebook, design and lead experiments, and become a contributing member of an active research team.
You’ll also sharpen your skills in reading and interpreting scientific papers, making sense of data, and communicating science clearly — whether that's in a lab meeting or on a poster at a research event. Expect to meet one-on-one each month with Dr. Bumann, who is a Board-certified Pediatric Dentist-Scientist, to talk about your progress, your goals, and what kind of scientist (or healthcare pro!) you want to become.
Along the way, you’ll pick up tools like GraphPad for data analysis, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and learn to use other software or equipment depending on your project. It’s a great way to explore your interests, build your resume, and make discoveries that matter.
Our lab is located at the UMKC School of Dentistry, right in the heart of Kansas City at 650 E. 25th Street on the 2nd and 3rd floors. It’s a collaborative, welcoming space where science meets real-world impact — and we can’t wait to show you around.
We’re looking for students who are curious, collaborative, and ready to dive in — no matter your background. If you're someone who likes working on a team, keeps things organized, pays attention to the little details, and isn’t afraid to ask questions or try (and retry!) until something works, you'll thrive here.
Whether you're interested in dentistry, medicine, developmental biology, bone and tooth science, craniofacial research, or just want to explore how science impacts health, there’s space for you here. We welcome students from a wide range of majors, and we’ll match your project to your goals — whether that’s applying to dental school, diving into research, or discovering what lights you up.
We’re looking for students who can spend about 10+ hours a week in the lab, ideally in two solid chunks of time between Monday and Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM — you won’t be stuck here all day every day, but we want you to have enough time to really dig into your project and get results!
Planning to stick around for two or more semesters? Even better! Long-term students get to dive deeper into their projects, gain more skills, and make a real impact.
Sep 23, 2025
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