The Summer Research Program is a 10-week, structured research program that provides incoming dental students who have an interest in research with the opportunity to execute a research project alongside a faculty mentor. The SRP has proven to be a valuable asset for many of first-year dental students to help get acclimated to our college before classes begin, while simultaneously exploring oral health research through a research project with a faculty mentor. Participants receive three hours of elective credit in the fall semester for their research activities.
ufcd summer research program
Application Deadline: March 21, 2025
The 2025 Summer Research Program runs from May 19 to July 25. Students must complete an SRP packet, which consists of several components. First, fill out the three application materials outlined below: the application, SRP participation acknowledgment, and consent form. Also, please include your resume or CV and a mentor/faculty letter of support. A cover letter with a personal statement is encouraged but not required.
Application Materials to Submit
- 2025 Summer Research Program Application
- Summer Research Program Participation Acknowledgement Form
- Consent Form
More Program Information and Benefits
At the beginning of the Summer Research Program, participants receive a schedule for the 10-week duration of the program. Student discussion groups and lectures during the program provide a more casual environment for participants to get to know one another, interact and confer regarding their research projects. Each year, guest speakers additionally provide an overview of various topics, which include, but are not limited to:
- Highlights of Current Faculty Research Projects
- Laboratory Safety
- Artificial Intelligence
- Human and Animal Contact
- Responsible Conduct in Research
- Abstract Preparation
- Library Resources
At the end of the program, students are required to submit an abstract of their research project to the Office of Research. They also present the results of their research at an abstract presentation session, usually scheduled during the first week of dental school.
Another benefit of the program is that students can participate in local, national and international dental research meetings. Papers presented at these meetings represent the results of 10 weeks of total research activity. Some of these abstracts are refined and submitted to the American and/or International Association of Dental Research for presentation at annual national/international meetings. The number of students who have presented papers at these prestigious meetings in previous years is a testimony to the quality of students, mentors and the overall research experience.
Faculty mentors and staff contribute their time and effort to assist in the design, operation, data acquisition, data analysis phases and in the interpretation of experimental results. This program has been highly effective in transferring research skills to eager students and clearly demonstrates that significant research can be accomplished in a short period of time when the involved participants are organized and committed to the generation of new knowledge.
Questions & Answers
Who is eligible for the Summer Research Program?
Incoming first-year UF College of Dentistry dental students interested in research.
What are the benefits of participating?
- Increases skills in analytical thinking, accessing and critically analyzing scientific literature, organizing and presenting research findings.
- Allows students to form relationships with faculty and become familiar with the college prior to beginning a dental school career.
- Allows students to participate in local, national and international dental research meetings.
Where do Summer Research Program participants live during the program and are scholarships available?
Student participants are responsible for their own living accommodations, however, a small stipend is paid from funds received from corporate and UFCD sponsors to partially offset the living expenses of incoming students during the summer program.
Where can I locate information on research topics?
Visit our faculty mentors and their research interests online.
SRP Contact: Denise Webb
