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Summer Research Fellowship Program
2009 FAQ Sheet for the Summer Research Followship Program at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
Director: Dr. Joel Rudney
- What are summer fellowships?
- Who is eligible?
- Who should apply?
- What is the time commitment?
- Is there a stipend?
- Where does the money come from?
- What are the obligations?
- Are there any perks?
- How are applications reviewed?
- How are mentors selected?
- Are there opportunities for Minnesota pre-dental students to do dental research?
- How can pre-dental students put themselves on the path to a summer fellowship?
- Are there other research opportunities for dental students?
1. What are summer fellowships?
The summer fellowship program provides University of Minnesota School of Dentistry students with the opportunity to do research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The mentors most often will be School of Dentistry faculty, or post-doctoral fellows in the Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program (MinnCResT). However, faculty from other Academic Health Center schools and the Veteran’s Administration hospital may occasionally participate. The summer fellowship program provides a great opportunity for qualified students to contribute to the progress of dental and craniofacial research. Return to the top
2. Who is eligible?
At this point, we are not able to offer fellowships to pre-dental students until after they have been formally accepted into the School of Dentistry. Accepted students are eligible for 8-10 research scholarships. Students who are offered research scholarships will carry out their research during the summer before they begin their first year of dental school.
An additional 8-10 fellowships (depending on funding) will be available for current dental students who are finishing the first year of their program. Current students must file an application form, which will be distributed to all eligible students during Spring semester. Either new or returning fellows may apply.
Under special circumstances, fellowships may be awarded to previous summer fellows who want to continue doing research during their third or fourth years. Applications from third-year dental hygiene students also may be considered, subject to approval from the Director of the Dental Hygiene program.
Persons who are not currently accepted or enrolled in the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry are not eligible for this program.
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3. Who should apply?
This program is directed towards our students who already know that they really enjoy doing research, and also towards those who would like to find out if they would enjoy research. Those who are considering applying to a dental specialty program (such as orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, pedodontics, etc.) also may find it helpful to acquire some prior experience in dental research. A primary goal of the summer research program is to give our students the opportunity to explore a career in academic dentistry. The future of dental education depends upon our ability to recruit the next generation of bright young energetic faculty. Return to the top
4. What is the time commitment?
Pre-first year students will be expected to do full-time research for 10 weeks during the summer. The preferred start date is the beginning of the School of Dentistry summer session in mid-May (May 18 in 2009). However, start dates up to the first week in June can be negotiated. End dates and vacation time also can be negotiated with mentors, to allow for events such as family vacations, honeymoons, etc. However, work must be completed by the beginning of first-year orientation (August 17 in 2009). Return to the top
Current dental students entering the second year will start on June 22, 2009, and work through August 28, 2009. This schedule is equivalent to 10 weeks of full-time work. It generally is possible to negotiate vacation time with mentors, in exchange for work in the evening and on weekends. Current students continuing existing research into their third or fourth years will work year-round as their clinic schedules permit.
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5. Is there a stipend?
The current stipend is $4,000. Pre-first year students will simply receive a check for this amount. Although current students also receive a check, it is important for them to note that the University of Minnesota considers their stipends to be financial aid. Thus, it will count towards the total amount of financial aid that they are eligible to receive during any given University academic year (which starts in September). The advantage of the stipend for current students is that it reduces the amount that you have to borrow. You don’t have to pay it back, and you don’t have to pay interest on it. It sometimes happens that a fellow has already borrowed the maximum amount, before their fellowship starts. In those cases, it has been possible to defer the stipend into the next academic year (reducing the amount that you have to borrow then). Return to the top
6. Where does the money come from?
Funding for individual fellowships is provided through a variety of sources in the School of Dentistry, including scholarship funds and the Dean’s office. The number of fellowships that can be awarded is contingent upon funding, and may vary from year to year. Return to the top
7. What are the obligations?
In addition to the research itself, first-time summer fellows will be expected to participate in a series of seminars. Repeating summer fellows are excused from the seminars, with two important exceptions. Every fellow is required to have annual training on research safety and research ethics. When possible, this will be done as part of the seminar series.
We will pretty much leave you alone during the Fall Semester after you complete your research. However, in Spring semester you are expected to write about and present your research. Summer Fellows will prepare a 300 word abstract of their research, due at the beginning of February, and expand it into a ten page research report, due at the end of Spring Break. They also represent the School of Dentistry by presenting their work in poster form at local and regional conferences during March and April. These will include the School of Dentistry’s Dean’s Day and also the Midwest Student Dental Research Conference. The Midwest Conference rotates among Midwestern dental schools including Minnesota, Iowa, Marquette, Illinois-Chicago, Southern Illinois (Carbondale), Missouri-Kansas City, Creighton, Nebraska, and Colorado. Return to the top
8. Are there any perks?
The fellowships provide opportunities for travel. The School generously provides funding for Fellows to attend the Midwest Student Dental Research Conference. Mentors with independent research funding may also chose to use it to send students to the International Association for Dental Research meeting or other professional meetings (funding from the School for that purpose may be available, but cannot be guaranteed). Authors of the top five research reports receive travel prizes including trips to the IADR meeting, ADA meeting, the Dental Student’s Conference on Research in the DC area, and the Hinman Student Research conference in Memphis. Authors of the reports ranked 6th through 10th may receive $100 cash awards. Return to the top
9. How are applications reviewed?
Due to the limited number of fellowships available, the application process is competitive. The School of Dentistry Admissions Committee screens pre-D1 applicants for research potential on an ongoing basis. This is done using the information provided in applicant files. Summer Research scholarships then are offered to selected students when the first round of acceptance letters are mailed in December. Application forms submitted by current students in Spring semester are screened by a committee of School of Dentistry researchers. In either case, the selection of Fellows is the result of a “holistic” process. Criteria that are considered include previous research experience, expressed interest and enthusiasm, and the student’s level of academic achievement. Decisions are based on all of those factors combined. Return to the top
10. How are mentors selected?
In Spring semester, prospective mentors are asked to submit student research projects. The range of topics encompassed by those projects reflects the great diversity of research carried out within the field of dental and craniofacial research. These may include (but are not limited to) microbiology, immunology, virology, neuroscience, bone biology, cancer, growth and development, muscle biology, dental materials, oral epidemiology, and research in clinical dentistry. The summer research committee matches selected Fellows with mentors. This is based on common interests and experience. However, it may not always be possible to give a student their first choice for a mentor or research area. Return to the top
11. Are there opportunities for Minnesota pre-dental students to do dental research?
The first priority of the Summer Research Fellowship program is to find mentors for our accepted and current dental students who are interested in doing research. The School of Dentistry is participating in a collaborative program with the College of Biological Sciences, which matches CBS students with opportunities for directed research in the School of Dentistry during Fall and Spring semesters (this program is not available in the summer). Although this program is being administered by CBS, students from other colleges may apply. The selection process is competitive, and an application form is required. Interested students should contact Dr. Robin Wright (rwright@umn.edu), the CBS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. The School of Dentistry does not have any UROP slots available for University of Minnesota students who are not already dental or dental hygiene students. You can apply for a cross-collegiate UROP slot, but that would have to be arranged though the UROP coordinator at your own college. The first step in doing that would be to identify a School of Dentistry faculty member who is willing to serve as your UROP mentor, and that is entirely up to you. If you can find a UROP mentor in the School of Dentistry, your next step would be to contact your collegiate coordinator and ask for a cross-collegiate application. That application would be reviewed by both your college and the School of Dentistry, and the final decision whether or not to fund an award would be made by your college. Return to the top
12. How can pre-dental students put themselves on the path to a summer fellowship?
Previous research experience (plus a strong letter from your research mentor) is certainly a plus in terms of qualifying for the Summer Research Program. However, there is no additional advantage to having done research with a School of Dentistry faculty member. Similar considerations apply to the admissions process for the school itself. The Admissions Committee is interested in applicants who have done quality research, in any field of science. Return to the top
13. Are there other research opportunities for dental students?
A. A variety of research fellowships are available at the local, national, and international levels. Links to those programs are provided below:
The American Association for Dental Research offers AADR Student Research Fellowships to selected students from United States Dental Schools. It should be noted that these fellowships require that a project already be defined in advance with a faculty mentor The total award is $2,000 for research plus travel to the AADR meeting, and the student has up to two years to complete the project. Click on the link for application information.
The NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award provides selected dental students with the opportunity to work during the summer at the intramural laboratories of the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, Maryland. Click on the link for application information.
The NIH/Fogarty Clinical Research Scholars Training Program provides an opportunity for pre-doctoral students to work for a year on international clinical research projects in a variety of developing countries. At least D3 standing is required to meet the qualifications for this program. Click on the link for application information.
The David E. Rogers Summer Fellowship Program is open to medical and dental students for the summer between their first and second year, and they are trying to increase participation by dental students. Projects are "intended to focus on coupling medicine and dentistry with the needs of underserved or disadvantaged patients or populations." Click on the link for application information. Return to the top
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