Training Resources

Getting Started in Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research

Summer Internships

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

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 (D.D.S.-D.M.D./Ph.D.) students, Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and dentists earning Ph.D. degrees. See current institutional training programs for more information.

Training for Researchers Who Are Not U.S. Citizens

Most NIDCR programs to support early training in dental, oral, and craniofacial research have limited eligibility to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, and permanent residents.

Options for individuals with temporary U.S. 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 Ph.D. or postdoctoral training for dentists who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• K99/R00 supports those with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree to move from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions.

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.

How to Find a Mentor

Tools to Find Mentors 

The NIH RePORTER Database is a great way to find potential mentors and collaborators in dental, oral, and craniofacial research. Search tools, including Matchmaker can identify NIH-funded projects of interest. RePORTER also provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH/NIDCR research activities.

Join the National Research Mentoring Network

The National Research Mentoring Network is a nationwide network, open to all, that allows mentors and mentees to participate in long-term responsive interactions among various segments of the biomedical workforce. 

Research Mentoring Resources are available for both Mentors and Mentees through the NIH Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program.

Learn How to Network 

Podcasts/videocasts on networking and other career development skills are publicly available through the Office of Training & Education, Division of Intramural Research.