The purpose of the University of Maryland Summer Research Training Program is to provide students with the opportunity to gain direct, hands-on biomedical research experience under the mentorship of faculty actively engaged in research. Predoctoral students in dentistry and medicine at the University of Maryland, students in dentistry from Howard, undergraduate students in the Meyerhoff and MARC Programs from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and  undergraduate students from other biology programs are eligible to apply.

All participants receive financial support of approximately $1,500 per month.

About the Program

The Dental School recognizes the need to foster student interest in pursuing biomedical research careers. Dental and college students participate in intensive research training for three months during the summer.

To increase the number of underrepresented minorities and women in dental research, the program targets dental students from Howard University in Washington, DC.

Training includes a hands-on research experience as students become immersed into the laboratory culture, receiving formal training in statistical analysis, scientific writing and ethics in science, an exciting seminar series, and mentoring for developing a career in the biomedical sciences.

Each student’s training experience is specifically designed to meet their individual background and the specific nature of the research project.

Trainees are assigned a mentor and treated as a full-time participant 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 hand-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.

Trainees present their research as it evolves to an audience of their peers during the course of the summer.

Trainees attend a full-day Research Career Day at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, MD and are invited to participate in a discussion with distinguished panelists who provide their perspective on research careers and answer any questions the trainees may have.

The goal of the summer research training program is to plant the seed for producing the health care professionals that will be the leaders in oral and craniofacial health care in the 21st century.

Training Areas

More than thirty faculty members from the University of Maryland Dental School and Medical School, and other related clinics comprise the program’s pool of research mentors. Their research focuses on one or more areas:

• Hard Tissues and neoplastic diseases;
• Infectious and autoimmune diseases;
• Oral and craniofacial chronic sensory disorders;
• Oral and craniofacial motor disorders.

Each of these program areas provides the opportunity for basic research, clinical research, or both.

All University of Maryland students enrolled in programs leading to a DDS degree are eligible for research training support, as are all Howard University students of dentistry. Undergraduate students from the Meyerhoff and MARC Programs at UMBC and undergraduate students from other biology programs are also eligible.

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).

* Howard University dental students are chosen based on a recommendation from their university.

Program admission criteria for undergraduate students:

• Recommendation from undergraduate university;
• Satisfactory grade-point average, SAT scores, and performance in biological science courses in college;
• Demonstrated interest in biomedical research and/or research experience.

Faculty Research Areas

(B) Basic
(CT) Clinical Trials
(CR) Clinical Research
* UM Dental School
** UM School of Medicine

To Apply

Registration for the 2010 program will begin November 15, 2009.  Deadline for applying to the 2009 program is April 1, 2010. The application process first includes completing the Application for Short-Term Research Training,  followed by sending the following criteria that also includes your letter of interest to:  Ms. Frances Addison, Research Administrator, Summer Research Training Program. Incoming dental students interested in training should include DAT scores and/or transcript from undergraduate institution. Students already enrolled in dental school should send class standing and transcript. Undergraduate students should include SAT scores, transcript from undergraduate institution, and letters of recommendation.

University of Maryland Dental School
Department of Neural and Pain Sciences
650 W. Baltimore St., Suite 8 South
Baltimore, MD 21201

Ms. Frances Addison
Research Administrator
(410) 706-6940
(410) 706-0865 (fax)
faddison@umaryland.edu