Getting Involved

Fourth-year dental research student, Leah Barshinger traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of important oral-health-related legislative priorities.

The Dental Student Research Program provides exceptional dental students with experience in research. Two sources of funding are available to support qualified dental students: The Student Research Trainee-ships from the Iowa Institute of Oral Health Student Research Fellowship and the Iowa Dental Research Grants are made available through the Iowa Institute of Oral Health in the College of Dentistry. These awards are designed to give students a structured research experience extending over a three month period between May and September.

Dental students are eligible for the Iowa Institute of Oral Health Research Fellowship and Iowa Dental Research Grant. For either award, students must be sponsored by a faculty mentor, who will provide guidance during the three-month period.

In addition to learning about a specific research area, all awardees gain experience in working with a laboratory team and with a dental scientist, the faculty mentor who, through training and experience, has achieved recognition as a contributing member of the scientific community.

The application process is highly competitive, requiring submission of a research proposal and a thorough review by the Student Research Committee. The application deadline is April 1.  

Dental students involved in research are invited to register for 1-2 s.h. of academic credit in the Dental Student Research Honors Course (PCD:8500:0800). Registration is optional for Iowa Institute of Oral Health Awardees, Iowa Dental Research Grant recipients, and other awardees.