Dental & Medical Students

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Training Grants Sponsored by NIDCR

Provides support to students pursuing both D.D.S./D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. An annual stipend and partial tuition are provided. Additional funds are available for other training-related expenses. Applicants must be enrolled in a D.D.S./D.M.D. program at an accredited U.S. dental school and accepted in a related scientific Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) program that has an NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree training program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents at the time of award.​

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Training at NIDCR (on the NIH campus)

  • NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award
    Designed to expose dental students to the latest advances in oral health research and administration. The program is a minimum of eight weeks during the summer on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. NIDCR provides a stipend and the nominating dental school provides support for air or ground transportation. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. dental school. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence is required.
  • NIDCR Dental Clinical Research Fellowship
    This is a two-year or greater full-time program designed to train dentists in the latest clinical, translational and basic research methodologies. Qualified applicants hold a D.D.S./D.M.D. or equivalent dental clinical degree and a demonstrated interest in dental/oral/craniofacial research as evidenced by prior research experience, typically masters or doctoral level education beyond clinical training. Projects are designed to facilitate translational research in which clinical research projects are conducted that complement basic science laboratory projects. Fellows are provided with a stipend and may be eligible for NIH Loan Repayment Programs. For more information contact Jacqueline Mays, D.D.S., M.H.Sc., Ph.D., Dicrector NIDCR Clinical Research Fellowship at (301) 496-8800.
  • NIH Summer Internship Program
    Provides training in research procedures and principles of independent investigation to first-, second-, and third-year dental and medical students. Students will work with senior research scientists on the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland or at other off-campus NIH locations. A stipend is provided. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited medical or dental school. U.S. citizenship or permanent residence is required.
  • NIH Clinical Electives Program
    Offers a full complement of elective rotations for third- and fourth-year dental and medical students. Designed to provide first-hand experience in the design, conduct and management of clinical trials at the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland. It is recommended that all application materials be received by May 1 preceding the academic year of the desired session. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited dental or medical school. Both U.S. citizens and non-citizens are eligible to apply.
  • Medical Research Scholars Program
    A comprehensive, 12-month research enrichment program for research-oriented medical, dental, and veterinary students. Student scholars engage in a mentored basic, clinical, or translational research project on the NIH campus that matches their professional interests and career goals. Each scholar has an assigned tutor (year-long advisor) and works with an approved research mentor. The program is designed for students who have finished their initial clinical rotations (typically third year, but does not exclude students with strong research interests from applying prior to having completed these rotations. Fourth year students also qualify to apply and participate, but must defer graduation before participation). Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A stipend is provided.
  • Graduate Partnerships Program
    Allows students to conduct research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland while they are pursuing a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. Prospective Ph.D. students must apply to university programs that have a formal partnership with NIH. Candidates must submit both the university application and the online Graduate Partnerships Program application. They also must meet the admission deadline established by each program and have U.S. citizenship or permanent residence. A stipend is provided.
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Last Reviewed
December 2023