Program Overview

Program Description, Predoctoral Dental Student Distinction in Research

Objective

The objective of the Predoctoral Dental Student Distinction in Research Program is to recognize individual student investigators who, in addition to completing their clinical dental program, have acquired research skills and completed significant research activity. This distinction program is conferred upon academically exemplary students who have demonstrated unusually significant scientific accomplishments. The participants of this program complete most of their research-related activities during the non-curricular time.

Recognition

Students completing this program will graduate with the designation, "Distinction in Research" on their official transcripts.

Description of the Program

The Distinction in Research Program requires that each student, in collaboration with their research faculty mentor, completes a research project and prepares an original extended abstract that is suitable for incorporation into a peer-reviewed publication. The students should have played a significant role in the research project and will typically be listed as the first author on an abstract and listed as a co-author on a peer-reviewed manuscript resulting from the research.

The Associate Dean for Research and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will monitor the program and will present interested candidates for consideration to the Dental School Research Committee. The Research Committee will review all applications and make recommendations to the Dean regarding the designation of the "Distinction" status for the students concerned. Students participating in the Distinction in Research Program are strongly encouraged to present at various Oral Health/Dental Student Research meetings as part of their training experience. These meetings include, but are not limited to:

• Hinman Research Symposium competition
• American Association of Dental Research (AADR) Warner-Lambert Hatton Award
• the AADR Caulk/Dentsply competition
• International Association for Dental Research/Colgate Research in Prevention Travel Award
• Block Travel Award

Eligibility Criteria

• Must have completed one semester of Dental School
• Must have a 3.0 GPA

Application Procedure

Students interested in the program are required to complete specific application materials, including:

• Student Summer Research Training Program Application
• Mentor Selection Form

Program Overview

The program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop research skills and complete significant research activity, in addition to their clinical dental program. The program is monitored by the Associate Dean for Research and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the Research Committee reviews all applications and makes recommendations to the Dean.