Student Research

• DMD Student Research Fellowship: Through the Center for Oral Health Research, UKCD provides a number of stipends annually for students to participate in research projects. The fundamental goal of these projects is to "create new knowledge" for the profession so that prevention and treatment of oral and craniofacial diseases continue to evolve. UKCD students in these mentored research programs not only gather information that is presented through College Research Day each spring, but frequently use this experience to compete for national research awards, and often are co-authors on publications of the results. There are two types of awards: Research awards up to $1,500 each and research travel awards up to $1,000 each. Apply here by January 6, 2023.
• Graduate Student/Resident/Fellow/Extern Research Fellowship: The Center of Oral Health Research will make available two types of awards, Research awards up to $1,500 each and research travel awards up to $1,000 each, to support graduate students/residents/fellows and/or externs for research and travel related to research in the fields of oral and craniofacial disease. Apply here by January 6, 2023.
• Undergraduate Research Scholarship Award: Offered by the Office of Undergraduate Research to interested pre-dental undergraduate students who want to be involved in oral/craniofacial health research. Each applicant will need to apply along with a faculty mentor. If you do not have a mentor yet, you can search for and contact a mentor listed on this page under Research Mentors. The online application is available here (log in using UK linkblue information). Four scholarships will be offered. Deadline extended to November 12, 2022. Question/issues: contact Courtney Brown.
• American Academy of Implant Dentistry Foundation (AAIDF) Student Grants: To provide dental and graduate students with the opportunity of research related to implant dentistry, grants in the amount of $2,000 will be awarded this year. In addition, a $500 travel stipend is provided for students to present their data at a future AAID Annual Conference. The application opened on March 16, 2020. The application deadline for student grants is June 15, 2021. The Student Grant application can be found here.
• AADR Student Research Fellowships: Each fellowship (the number is yet to be determined; 16 were funded in 2019) consists of a stipend of $2,100. Winners will be announced at the AADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the AADR. Upon completion of the research (must be completed within two years), acceptance of an abstract and presentation at the annual meeting, each recipient will then be awarded funds ($600) for transportation and accommodation expenses to the meeting. Recipients are required to present their research at the meeting, by submitting abstracts for poster or oral presentations. Deadline: April 2, 2021. See more details here.
• Periodontal Research Fellowship: The goal of Periodontal Research Fellowship is to support professional students in the experience and development of meaningful evidence in the area of Periodontology and Implantology. The Periodontology Research Fellowship is open to professional school students, in their first, second, or third years. Learn more here (PDF).
• Professional Student Mentored Research Fellowship (PSMRF): The Center for Clinical and Translational Science provides mentored research fellowships in clinical and translational science (CTS) for professional students. This 12 to 18 month fellowship provides the student with a $3,000 stipend for participating in CTS research with a faculty mentor at the University of Kentucky. It is expected that students will publish and/or present the results of their research. Applications are accepted twice a year (January and April). Information: Barbara Hurst who will provide the REDCap link for the current application period. Learn more about applying here.
• AADR NSRG Funding Opportunities For Students: The American Association of Dental Research (AADR) National Student Research Group (NSRG) offers a variety of funding opportunities which can be found on their website. Programs with a submission date of December 1: Outstanding LSRG Chapter Award - $400; Best LSRG Newsletter - $100; Outstanding LSRG Advocacy Award – New this year! This will be a $200 award to support your chapter’s advocacy efforts; Student Advocate of Year; AADR SRG Mentor Award; LSRG Membership awards (most new AADR members, and most new members by percent) $200; and Most Abstracts Accepted - $200
• NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award: To expose future dentists to careers in research, the NIDCR offers an outstanding summer research training opportunity in its intramural research labs for dental students. The NIDCR Summer Dental Student Award is designed to give talented dental students hands-on research experience and exposure to the latest advances in oral health research. Summer Dental Student Awardees are assigned to mentors who conduct research in the students’ areas of interest. Participation in the program may result in presentation of research findings at a scientific meeting or co-authorship of scientific publications. The deadline for the application is in January. Information: Dr. Deborah Philp, Program Director (301) 594-8444. Learn more about applying here.
• NIH Medical Research Scholars Program: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) is a comprehensive, year-long research enrichment program designed to attract the most creative, research-oriented medical, dental, and veterinary students to the intramural campus of the NIH in Bethesda, MD. Student scholars engage in a mentored basic, clinical, or translational research project on the main NIH campus in Bethesda, or at close by NIH facilities that matches their research interests and career goals. MRSP scholars will experience the full continuum of biomedical research—the bench, the bedside, between both and beyond. The application deadline is in January. Information: mrsp@nih.gov Include the subject line: MRSP Website: Request for Information. Learn more about applying here.
• Year-Long Medical Research Fellows Program at an Academic or Nonprofit Research Institution: The Medical Research Fellows Program gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a year of basic, translational, or applied biomedical research. Medical Fellows experience the excitement and intellectual rewards of research before making plans for residency or postgraduate training. The students select their own mentor at any academic or nonprofit research institution in the United States (excluding the National Institutes of Health or any other federal agency) or abroad, provided the proposed mentor is affiliated with a U.S. fellowship institution, and work with the mentor to develop a research proposal. Mentor selection and the research project proposal are key components of the application. Working with an HHMI investigator, early career scientist, or HHMI professor is encouraged but not required. The application deadline is in January. Information: medfellows@hhmi.org. Learn more about applying here.
• Summer Medical Fellows Program: The Summer Medical Fellows Program is primarily aimed at students who later intend to apply for the year-long Medical Fellows Program. Summer Medical Fellows spend eight to 10 weeks doing full-time research with an HHMI investigator, early career scientist, HHMI professor, or Janelia researcher. Fellows are exposed to high-quality science, have a chance to increase their scientific knowledge and research skills, and interact with world-class investigators in a rich training environment. Fellows can gain insight into a career as a medical scientist and determine if they would like to continue their research training in a year-long program. This program is for medical, dental, and veterinary students attending schools located in the United States. Up to 20 fellowships are awarded annually. The application deadline is in February. Information: medfellows@hhmi.org. Learn more about applying here.
• Ralph Phillips Student Research Award: Student dentists who wish to undertake novel research relevant to contemporary operative dentistry are invited to apply for a Ralph Phillips Student Research Award, sponsored by the Founders’ Fund of the Academy of Operative Dentistry (AOD). Applying: Applications for the award must be submitted electronically to the chair of the Research Committee of the Academy of Operative Dentistry, Dr. Ana Bedran-Russo. Learn more about applying here.
• Dr. Ray Bowen Student Research Award: The ADA Foundation and the Academy of Operative Dentistry welcomes applications for the Dr. Ray Bowen Student Research Award. The purpose of the Dr. Ray Bowen Student Research Award is to recognize outstanding and innovative student research in operative dentistry, and to support this research in order to improve the oral health of the public. The Dr. Ray Bowen Student Research Award honors Dr. Ray Bowen, the inventor of resin composites and dentin adhesives, and an internationally recognized authority on composite materials. Dr. Bowen is a former Director of the ADA Foundation's Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center (formerly Paffenbarger Research Center) and is presently active as a Distinguished Scientist. Application Submission Process: Applications must be submitted via the online system. A confirmation receipt is emailed at the time of submission to the applicant. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that materials have been submitted and confirmed through the online system by the published deadline. Learn more about applying here.

Incoming UK College of Dentistry DMD students interested in taking part in an intensive research experience in conjunction with their dental curriculum have the option of applying for the UK College of Dentistry Research Track program of study. Students do not need to apply to the Research Track in order to perform research while in dental school. Research Track students will gain valuable experience in research, have the opportunity to take part in meaningful studies, and receive scholarship funds to help offset UK College of Dentistry tuition fees. See the Research Track Application here.

Research Project Initiation Form (MSWord)

Rotation Form (MSWord)

Research Project Progress Form (MSWord)

Final Research Project Progress Form (MSWord)

Who are we?

The student research group (SRG) at UK College of Dentistry is a student organization dedicated to the needs of those interested in dental research. 

What do we do?

With the significance that oral health research holds in the field of dentistry it is more important than ever to become familiar with the process of what it takes to produce meaningful research. That is why we have a dedicated group to help students navigate the world of research. 

Our goals in the SRG are to: 

1. Help interested students make contact with established research labs and mentors. 
2. Aid in the application for financial assistance in the forms of grants, fellowships and scholarships.
3. Assist in teaching the skills of data presentation for national meetings and conferences. 

Within the UKCD SRG: 

• Members travel all over the world presenting research at little to no cost of their own. 
• Students have received over $100,000 in grants, awards, fellowships and scholarships.
• Student researchers have published in top-tier journals. 
• Members continue to gain access to competitive residency programs across the country.

How can you become involved?

Registration for the SRG is open at the beginning of each school year, however, you can become a member at any time by contacting us.

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Click here to view a list of researchers currently conducting exciting research at UKCD. We highly recommend that you learn about their research interests by reading their profiles and reviewing previous publications to see if you will be a good fit in their labs. 

Office of Undergraduate Research (resources)

Office of Undergraduate Research (poster printing and templates)