Dentist Scientist Training Program
The need for clinician-scientists has long been recognized within the biomedical science community. To help meet this need, NIDCR established the Dentist Scientist Training Program (DSTP). This program encourages and supports the training of dental students with outstanding credentials and potential who are motivated to undertake careers in biomedical research and academic dentistry. DSTP students participate in an integrated program of graduate training in the biomedical sciences and clinical training offered through dental schools. Graduates receive the combined D.D.S./D.M.D.-Ph.D. degree to prepare them to pursue careers in basic biomedical or clinical research.
NIDCR currently supports DSTP programs in fifteen dental schools, but opportunities for dual degree studies also exist in schools that do not have NIDCR training grants.
DSTP participants may choose from a wide range of research training programs. A list of NIDCR-supported programs is provided below.
Mechanism of Support
Grants are made to universities and their dental schools, which are responsible for program operation and trainee selection. Awardee institutions may also support additional students using funds from other sources. Trainee support provided by the grant includes the following:
- stipend;
- tuition allowance; and
- modest sums for travel, equipment, and supplies.
Continued support for an individual student is subject to annual renewal based on the trainee’s satisfactory performance in the program and the institution’s successful competition for funds at the time of grant renewal. Since DSTP grants are a type of National Research Service Award, trainees must be citizens or noncitizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., possess an alien registration receipt card I-151 or I-551). Trainees incur no payback obligation.
Individuals who wish to enter the DSTP should contact the program office at the participating institution(s) of their choice directly for curriculum information and admission requirements.
NIDCR-sponsored dual-degree training programs listed alphabetically by state:
| Alabama |
|
University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Dentistry
Birmingham, AL
Mary MacDougall, PhD
205‐996‐5122
macdougall@uab.edu
Dental Academic Research Training Program 
biomaterials, microbiology and immunology, craniofacial developmental biology and genetics, clinical research |
| California |
|
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Dentistry
Los Angeles, CA
David Wong, DMD, DMSC
(310) 206-3048
dtww@ucla.edu
UCLA Dentist-Scientists & Oral Health Researchers Training Program
bioengineering and bone biology, head and neck cancer, microbiology and immunology
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
San Francisco, CA
Richard Jordan, DDS, PhD
(415) 476-8233
richard.jordan@ucsf.edu
UCSF School of Dentistry: Science & Research
clinical research
University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry
San Francisco, CA
Pam Den Besten, DDS, MS
(415) 502-6383
pamela.denbesten@ucsf.edu
UCSF School of Dentistry: Science & Research
oral and craniofacial sciences, epidemiology, bioengineering, bioinformatics, craniofacial anomalies |
| Connecticut |
|
University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
Farmington, CT
Mina Mina, DMD, PhD
(860) 679-4081
mina@nso1.uchc.edu
Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development: NIH/NIDCR Training Grant
skeletal, craniofacial and oral biology |
| Florida |
|
University of Florida College of Dentistry
Gainesville, FL
Robert Burne, PhD
(352) 273-8847
rburne@dental.ufl.edu
College of Dentistry: D.M.D./Ph.D. Program
molecular biology, inflammation, immunology, pathology, neuroscience |
| Illinois |
|
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry
Chicago, IL
Luisa DiPietro, DDS, PhD
(312) 355-0432
ldipiet@uic.edu
College of Dentistry: Multidisciplinary Oral Science Training
oral cancer, diabetes, wound healing, tissue engineering |
| Maryland |
|
University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Baltimore, MD
Sharon Gordon, DDS, MPH, PhD
(410) 706-1656
sgordon@umaryland.edu
School of Dentistry Graduate Programs
pain/neuroscience, oncology, molecular and cell biology, infectious disease and microbiology, biomaterials, health promotion and disparities, clinical research |
| Michigan |
|
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
Ann Arbor, MI
Paul H. Krebsbach, DDS, PhD
(734) 936-2600
paulk@umich.edu
School of Dentistry Tissue Engineering and Regeneration Grant (T32)
tissue engineering and regeneration focused on restoration of oral-craniofacial tissues |
| Minnesota |
|
University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
Minneapolis, MN
Mark Herzberg, DDS, PhD
(612) 625-3974
mncrest@umn.edu
Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program
neuroscience, microbiology, immunology, cancer biology, developmental biology & genetics, biomedical engineering, clinical & health services research |
| New York |
|
|
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Rochester, NY
Robert Quivey, PhD
(585) 275-0382
OralBiology@urmc.rochester.edu
Center for Oral Biology: Training & Graduate Education
cellular and molecular biology of oral tissues and diseases |
| Ohio |
|
Ohio State University, College of Dentistry
Columbus, OH
John
Sheridan, PhD
(614) 688-4629
sheridan.1@osu.edu
Comprehensive Training in Oral & Craniofacial Sciences
oral biology, pathophysiology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering |
| South Carolina |
|
Medical University of South Carolina, College of Dental Medicine
Charleston, SC
Keith Kirkwood, DDS, PhD
(843) 792-1382
klkirk@musc.edu
Training in Craniofacial and Oral Health Research
infection and immunity, oral and systemic health, oral cancer, regenerative medicine/bioengineering, proteomics |
| Texas |
|
Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Dentistry
Dallas, TX
Rena D’Souza, BDS, DDS, PhD
(214) 828-8260
rdsouza@bcd.tamhsc.edu
College of Dentistry T32 Grant
genes and development, matrix biology and tissue engineering, neurosciences and molecular pathology, clinical research
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School
San Antonio, TX
Bjorn Steffensen, DDS, MS, PhD
(210) 567-3564
steffensenb@uthscsa.edu
Craniofacial Oral-Biology Student Training in Academic Research (COSTAR)
craniofacial biomimetics, pain and responses to injury |
| Washington |
|
University of Washington School of Dentistry
Seattle, WA
Timothy A DeRouen, PhD
(206) 543-2034
derouen@u.washington.edu
Department of Oral Biology DDS/PhD Program
biostatistics, epidemiology, health services research, psychology |
|