The purpose of the University of Maryland Dental Student Summer Research Training Program is to provide dental students with the opportunity to gain direct, hands-on biomedical research experience under the mentorship of faculty who are actively engaged in research. Predoctoral students in dentistry at the University of Maryland and matriculating dental students are eligible to apply. The program runs nine weeks and begins the first Monday of June.  

All participants receive financial support.

About the Program

• The School of Dentistry recognizes the need to foster student interest in pursuing biomedical research careers. Dental students and matriculating dental students participate in intensive research training for nine weeks during the summer.
• Training includes a hands-on research experience as students become immersed in laboratory culture, receiving formal training in statistical analysis, scientific writing and ethics in science. Students also participate in an exciting seminar series and receive mentoring for biomedical sciences career development.
• Each student’s training experience is specifically designed to meet his or her individual background and the specific nature of the research project.
• Trainees are assigned a mentor and treated as full-time participants in the mentor’s research program.
• Mentors provide guidance and supervision appropriate for the trainee’s degree of scientific maturity and knowledge of the specific subject area.
• In addition to 80 percent hands-on research training, trainees are introduced to formal lectures and seminars on the proper use of animals, ethical conduct in research, human research protection, scientific writing, biological hazards, and laboratory safety.
• Over the course of the summer, trainees present their research as it evolves to an audience of their peers.
• Trainees attend a Research Career Day at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, Maryland. They are invited to participate in a discussion with distinguished panelists, who provide their perspectives on research careers and answer questions.
• The goal of the summer research training program is to plant the seed for producing the health care professionals who will be the leaders in oral and craniofacial health care in the 21st century.

All University of Maryland students enrolled in programs leading to a DDS degree are eligible for research training support.

Admission Criteria

Program admission criteria for dental students:

• Satisfactory grade-point average, DAT scores, and undergraduate performance in biological science courses;
• Prior research experience;
• Demonstrated interest in biomedical research;
• Class standing (for students already enrolled in dental school).

Faculty Research Areas

Please click here for more information about the research areas.