Dr. Geoffrey Gerstner

Biography

Dr. Gerstner holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Brigham Young University and became interested in animal behavior and mammalogy. After graduation, he enrolled in a dual MS-DDS degree program at UCLA. As a Master's student, he studied motor control in a guinea pig model of tardive dyskinesia, fostering his interest in the nature of time, temporality, and motor behavior. Upon completing his DDS and MS, he pursued further graduate training supported by an NIH Dentist Scientist Award, studying orofacial pain management and obtaining a PhD in Neuroscience, with a focus on comparative behavior studies of mammals. His work has been recognized with the AADR Hatton Award. Dr. Gerstner's current research investigates mammalian chewing rhythmicity, scaling mechanisms, and clinical studies related to obstructive sleep apnea. He is currently funded by AADSM to study the efficacy of consumer products for home sleep apnea screening. His research on mammalian chewing has included over 200 species across 33 zoos and national parks. Additionally, Dr. Gerstner's clinical practice focuses on treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea and is located within the Graduate Prosthodontics program at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.

Research Interests