The School of Dental Medicine is known for its robust research program, with faculty and students receiving millions of dollars in grant awards on a yearly basis to conduct cutting-edge research.<\/p>\n
The highly successful research program would not be possible without Business Services Manager Laura Didden, who says that \u201cintegrity\u201d is the key to her role.<\/p>\n
With over 90 grant applications submitted and 130 active research funds to manage each year, it\u2019s important that School of Dental Medicine researchers adhere to several rigorous standards and guidelines\u2014a task that Didden takes seriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking with individuals who are doing research, there are so many compliances that need to be in place and federal or sponsor guidelines that need to be followed,\u201d said Didden. \u201cThe financial consequences to the institution and\/or to a faculty\u2019s career could be greatly harmed if we don\u2019t follow them or make sure that the faculty follow them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Didden began working at UConn Health in 2005 as a financial clerk in Patient Financial Services. Two years later, she moved to the School of Dental Medicine where she had her first exposure to research grants and grant management.<\/p>\n
In 2010, Didden began developing a centralized pre-award system in the dental school and was instrumental in establishing the School of Dental Medicine research office. Today, as Business Services Manager, under the leadership of Dr. Rajesh Lalla, associate dean for research, Didden supports faculty with pre-and post-award management of sponsored research.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am fortunate to have a strong, dependable staff that surrounds me and helps us accomplish the goals of the School of Dental Medicine Research Office. I stress the importance of customer service, and as a result, I think that our office has earned the respect of faculty, other administrators that we work with on a daily basis, and central administration,\u201d said Didden.<\/p>\n
Dean of the School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Steven Lepowsky, agrees that Didden embodies integrity in her everyday work: \u201cIn her role in the research office, she has to ensure that everyone is \u00a0fully in line with all aspects of research\u00a0integrity. Additionally, in her interactions with faculty, staff, and students, she embodies\u00a0integrity\u00a0\u2013 honesty, adherence to strong moral values, truthfulness, trustworthiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Didden, integrity has always been a part of her character.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up with integrity being instilled in me by my parents.\u00a0 Integrity means \u2018doing the right thing.\u2019 It has a broad definition which could encompass many things \u2013 it\u00a0 means being dependable, loyal, treating others with respect and letting them know you value them, being\u00a0 accountable for actions – good and bad, and following the rules.\u201d<\/p>\n
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