“One of the NIH reviewers asked a young aspiring medical scientist, “Why are you, a medical graduate, interested in dental science?” Without blinking, the PhD candidate replied, “Dental science is part of medical science.” And he’s absolutely right.”
Funding Opportunities
Support for domestic students:
Domestic students admitted to the PhD program in oral biology may receive funding from the NIDCR T-32 Training Grant.
T-32 Training Grant Eligibility Requirements
Predoctoral trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their NRSA appointment, and must be training at the postbaccalaureate level and enrolled in a program leading to a PhD in science or in an equivalent research doctoral degree program. Health professional students who wish to interrupt their studies to engage in full-time research training before completing their professional degrees are also eligible.
For the DSTP, all trainees must be enrolled in a formal, combined program that leads to the award of a DDS/DMD and a PhD or an equivalent degree in one of the priority NIDCR research fields. Trainees must enter the program not later than their third year of professional school, although preference will be given to an appointment in the trainee's first or second year. In addition, all trainees must have received a baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their appointment. Individuals currently enrolled in a joint DDS/PhD or MD/PhD program are eligible for consideration as trainees. Individuals who obtained a PhD prior to entering dental school and desire to pursue another research doctorate while in dental school are not eligible for the DSTP.
Postdoctoral trainees must have received, as of the beginning date of the NRSA appointment, a DDS/DMD, MD, PhD, or comparable doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution.
Stipend levels will be provided as set by NIH guidelines (available on the NIH Web site at http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm). Funds are also available to offset the combined cost of tuition, fees, and health insurance (either self-only or family, as appropriate). A full description of the tuition policy can be found on the NIH Web site at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps_2001/part_iib_3.htm.
Citizenship. To be appointed to a training position supported by an NRSA research training grant, an individual must be a citizen or non-citizen national of the United States or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551 or some other legal verification of such status). Non-citizen nationals are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the United States (e.g., American Samoa and Swains Island). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.
Other methods of support
Students are also encouraged to submit individual fellowship award applications to appropriate funding agencies. U.S. citizens or foreign nationals may submit individual training award applications to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Such awards include the Individual Predoctoral Dental Scientist Fellowship (F30), or the NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32). Applicants holding a clinical doctoral degree (MD, DDS, DMD, or equivalent) are eligible to submit an application for the Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08) or the Mentored Patient-oriented Research Career Development Award (K23). Please contact Dr. Scannapieco in advance for advice if you would like to consider development and submission of an individual fellowship application.
Support for international students
Support for non-U.S. citizens or resident aliens may come from various sources. In some situations where an individual is committed to a particular research area, a student may find support from a faculty mentor’s grant.
Another potential route for support is through the university’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences. This program offers students an opportunity to experience laboratory rotations with faculty members across departmental lines before selecting a PhD mentor following the first year of studies. This may include a focus in oral biology.
The university provides a fellowship stipend and tuition waiver for the first year of study. Once "matched" with a mentor, the student matriculates in the department of their research advisor and completes additional departmental requirements and a thesis project under the direction of the student's thesis guidance committee. Typically the student’s mentor or department during the second and subsequent years of study provides financial support for the student. It is important to note that students in good standing in the PhD program have maintained a consistent funding rate while proceeding in their studies. You may access additional information and application materials at http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/bsgp/ProgramandFaculty.html.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact:
- Contact
- Dr. Frank A. Scannapieco
- Department of Oral Biology
- SUNY at Buffalo
- 109 Foster Hall
- Buffalo, NY 14214
- Tel: (716) 829-3373
- Fax: (716) 829-3942
- E-mail: fas1@buffalo.edu
“I think as mentors here, our approach to scientific thought processes is our strength.”