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Faculty Member

Dr. Sara Flood

Biography

Dr. Sara J. Flood is a tenured faculty member at Utah Valley University where she currently works in the Department of Biology as an Associate Professor. In the Fall 2015, Dr. Sara Flood left Australia and came to the United States to work as a professor at Utah Valley University. Her prior experience includes teaching at a medical and dental school at The University of Western Australia where she worked with Aboriginal students. At UVU, she teaches courses in dental research, human anatomy and physiology. Her field of research is in Forensic Odontology and currently she has over twenty research students whose projects include: adult age estimation in forensic science using peri-apical radiographs; forensic age estimation in children based on orthopantomograms (OPGs); community dental and public health; fluoride and caries; and Native American Healthcare in the United States.

Education

PhD, The University of Western Australia, 2012

Major: Forensic Odontology

MforSci, The University of Western Australia, 2007

Major: Forensic Anthropology

BS, The University of Guelph, 2002

Major: Biological Science

Teaching

ZOOL 2320

Human Anatomy, Spring 2026

ZOOL 2320

Human Anatomy, Spring 2026

ZOOL 2320

Human Anatomy, Spring 2026

ZOOL 2320

Human Anatomy, Spring 2026

ZOOL 2320

Human Anatomy, Spring 2026

Presentations

Flood, Sara (Author Only), Midyette, Marcellus (Presenter & Author), Mountain West Research Summit, "Thyroid Cancer Incidence in Utah", NOORDA College of Osteopathic Medicine, Provo. (May 8, 2026)
Flood, Sara (Author Only), Midyette, Marcellus (Presenter & Author), Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarly and Creative Works (SCULPT), "Thyroid Cancer Incidence in Utah", Utah Valley University, Orem. (April 7, 2026)
Flood, Sara (Author Only), Brooks, Lauren (Author Only), Madsen, Marissa (Presenter & Author), Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarly and Creative Works (SCULPT), "Accessibility of Indian Health Services Emergency Care in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations", Utah Valley University, Orem. (April 8, 2025)
Flood, Sara (Author Only), Banks, Davis (Presenter & Author), Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarly and Creative Works (SCULPT), "Do Fluoride Levels Indicate an Increased Risk of Fractures in Post-Menopausal Women?", Utah Valley University, Orem. (April 8, 2025)
Flood, Sara (Author Only), Brooks, Lauren (Author Only), Martinez Flores, Melissa (Presenter & Author), Lester, Hannah (Presenter & Author), Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarly and Creative Works (SCULPT), "Examining the Relationship Between Water Fluoridation and Oral Health in Utah's Children", Utah Valley University, Orem. (April 8, 2025)
Flood, Sara (Author Only), Bennett, Devan (Presenter & Author), Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarly and Creative Works (SCULPT), "Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome_ A review of impacted movement and treatment comparisons", Utah Valley University, Orem. (April 8, 2025)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Flood, Sara J, Elseiver, Array , "A comparison of Demirjian’s four dental development methods for forensic age estimation in South Australian sub-adults" (Issue: 7, vol. 20). Amsterdam: Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24112340/
Flood, Sara , Mitchell, Warren , Oxnard, Charles , Turlach, Berwin , McGeachie, John , (2011) "To evaluate the utlity of smaller sample sizes when assessing dental maturity curves for forensic age estimation" (Issue: 6, vol. 56). New Jersey: Journal of Forensic Sciences/ Wiley & Sons. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21854379/
Flood, Sara J., (2011) "A comparison of Demirjian’s four dental development methods for forensic age assessment. " (Issue: 6, vol. 56). New Jersey: Journal of Forensic Sciences/Wiley & Sons. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21854378/
Flood, Sara , Mitchell, Warren , Oxnard, Charles , Myer, Jan , Dadour, Ian , (2006) "Dental development in Western Australian subadults." (vol. 58). HOMO - Journal of Comparative Human Biology.

Awards

Educator of the Year - Wolverine Award

Utah Valley University - Student Athletics - July 2, 2024

Received the "Educator of the Year" award, which recognizes outstanding professors that UVU student athletes have had the opportunity to learn from.

Nomination for Faculty Excellence Award - College of Science

Utah Valley University - November 9, 2020

Scholarly Activities Committee (SAC) Grant

Utah Valley University - May, 2017

Title: High resolution mapping of reticulated water fluoride in Utah_ opportunities to improve oral heath. Awarded_ $7,180

Undergraduate Research Scholarly and Creative Activities (URSCA)

Utah Valley University - May, 2017

Title: The relationship between tibial cortical diaphysis thickness and total knee replacement therapy. Awarded_ $3,000

Scholarly Activites Committee (SAC) Grant

Utah Valley University - May, 2016

Title: Distribution of dental practices in Utah and data collectino of dental radiographs. Awarded_ $7,180

Australian Postgraduate Award (APA)

Australian Government - February, 2012

$23,728