Getting Started in Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research

Summer Internships 
NIDCR Intramural Laboratories in Bethesda, MD accept high school, college, post-baccalaureate, medical and dental students for NIH summer internship programs and other opportunities.  For more information, contact Dr. Belinda Hauser. 

NIDCR awards support a summer undergraduate research program:

• Howard University, Washington, DC 
  Howard University Summer Research Experience Program in OralHealth Disparity for Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Students​

Contact the school directly for applications and additional information.

One-year Research Opportunity for Dental/Medical Students
Dental and medical students may engage in a year-long mentored basic, clinical, or translational, research project on the main NIH campus in Bethesda through the Medical Research Scholars Program.  

NIDCR Institutional Training Programs (T32, T90/R90)
Full-time training for independent careers in dental oral, and craniofacial research.  Includes training for predoctoral dual degree (DDS-DMD/PhD) students, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and dentists earning PhD degrees. See current institutional training programs for more information.
   
Training for Researchers Who Are not US Citizens
Most NIDCR programs to support early training in dental, oral, and craniofacial research have limited eligibility to US citizens, non-citizen nationals, and permanent residents.     

Options for individuals with temporary US visas:   

• Individuals with doctoral degrees who are seeking a research position at NIH/NIDCR laboratories, may be eligible for postdoctoral visiting fellowships. 
• NIDCR Institutional T90/R90 programs, provide PhD or postdoctoral training for dentists who are not US citizens or permanent residents. 

Opportunities for Dentists in Private Practice  
Clinicians in private practice can join the NIDCR sponsored National Dental Practice Based Research Network.  This network provides practitioners with an opportunity to propose or participate in research studies that address day-to-day issues in oral healthcare.

Health Disparities Research Program

The Health Disparities Research Program supports studies that:

• provide a better understanding of the basis of health disparities and inequalities;
• develop and test interventions tailored/targeted to underserved populations; and
• explore approaches to the dissemination and implementation of effective findings to assure rapid translation into practice, policy and action in communities.​