Short-Term Summer Research for Dental Students
General Instructions
PURPOSE: The purpose of this six-eight week summer fellowship program is to provide a basic science or clinical research training experience for dental students or incoming dental students with a solid academic standing. The program is intended to increase the general awareness among the selected and particularly interested dental students of the challenges, intellectual satisfaction, and impact of leading-edge dental research. The long-range objective is to increase the number of dentists who are motivated and qualified for a career in dental academics and research.
PROGRAM CONTENT: Selected students will receive a stipend to work in the various basic science or clinical research facilities within the Dental School or UAB campus during the summer. Students will receive direct hands-on experience on a clearly defined research project with attainable goals. The research projects will be performed by the students related to ongoing projects or newly developed projects under the mentor's supervision.
The students will also participate in a summer lecture course, seminars, and workshops. Although the major training program activities are during the summer, students may continue related activities during the fall and spring semesters. The program will culminate with the submission and presentation of an abstract at a scientific meeting. Most students select to attend the American Association of Dental Research meeting during spring break. Students are encouraged to participate in various student research competitions.
COMPENSATION AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Fellows must devote full-time participation to the project and will receive approximately $435/week. A minimum of eight weeks are required, but students may work as long as twelve weeks. Please note: no course credit can be accrued while you are being paid from the training grant. All student participants in the Summer Research Fellowship Program are strongly encouraged to present the results of their research projects at a local, national, or international scientific meeting. If a student chooses to attend such a meeting to present their summer work, the cost of the trip (up to $600) can be supported through the Dean’s Travel Award; while the remainder can come from your mentor, it is not guaranteed. Sponsored dental students are required to present at the Annual Scholars’ Symposium in the Spring. It is also expected that the summer training will be planned with the goal that the results of the student work will eventually be submitted for publication with the student listed as a co-author. The presentation and publication of student research results is an important aspect of the summer training experience.
ELIGIBILITY: DS I's, II's and III's who are in good academic standing are eligible to participate in this program. However, all students will be considered if the program does not interfere with their academic performance. Students are eligible for consecutive years of funding.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
1) Obtain the preliminary application form from the dental school research webpage (http://www.dental.uab.edu:16080/research/training-programs/dart/dental-academic-research-training-program/Track-I.html) and return by Friday, March 26 (noon) to Jeff Allison in the Institute of Oral Health Research, Room SDB 702, and Email: jcallison@uab.edu.
2) A faculty mentor roster is available at the SOD website (http://www.dental.uab.edu:16080/research/training-programs/dart/dart-mentors-research-interests.html). Students should arrange meetings with selected mentors from the roster for selection of research project area. Mentors should be selected from the faculty mentor listing. Consult with Dr. Noel Childers (nkc@uab.edu) or Dr. Javed (javeda@uab.edu) for advice if you have difficulty contacting, selecting, or finding mentor.
APPLICATION