Summer Research Program Application Information
The Summer Research Program is for current Penn Dental Medicine students to engage in a basic laboratory or clinical research project. Student researchers are expected to work full-time beginning no later than July 7, 2025, with a faculty advisor on a mutually agreed upon research project and continue working on their projects throughout the academic year as their schedule allows after discussion with their research advisor. Students are expected to write the project proposal with guidance from their research advisor using these guidelines. Applications for research projects are reviewed and ranked by the School of Dental Medicine Research Committee and awarded travel funding based on scientific merit and the availability of funds.
This program aims to provide interested dental students an opportunity to experience basic and clinical dental research from a “hands-on” perspective by participating in an ongoing faculty research investigation. The goal of the program is to aid the development of dental students who want to pursue academic and research-orientated careers in the oral health field by providing an interactive experience with active research faculty.
Current Penn Dental Medicine students in good academic standing who can commit full-time to their research projects during the summer and continue working on their projects throughout the academic year as their schedule allows are eligible to apply.
The students should complete the basic required training in Laboratory Safety and Bioethics in Research. Additionally, students conducting human subjects research should consult with their faculty advisor if IRB approval is required before initiating their project. The advisors and students meet weekly to discuss progress and plan for future activities. At the end of the program, each student is required to write a report (200 words), including an introduction, objectives, methods, results, conclusions, and future directions of their study, which their advisor approves. All summer research trainees must also give a poster presentation on Penn Dental Medicine Research Day. Research Day is held each spring at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and provides an opportunity for students of all classes to present their research.
Research faculty from throughout Penn Dental Medicine are available as potential faculty advisors for the Summer Research Program. Students can make arrangements to do a research project with Penn faculty outside of the School of Dental Medicine if first discussed with Dr. Esra Sahingur, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Student Research. Students are encouraged to visit the web biographies and learn research areas of each faculty member and identify at least 2-3 faculty advisors to interview. The students should contact the faculty to discuss the research projects and availability of a position in the lab or clinic.
Students can contact Dr. Esra Sahingur to get more information about the application process, identifying research advisors, and guidelines for research proposals.
To be considered for the Summer Research Program and travel awards, students must complete the following:
- Summer Research Program Application » The application includes a proposal describing the project with guidance from the students’ selected research advisor. The proposal should be prepared using the following guidelines: Summer Research Program proposal guidelines »
- Faculty Research Advisor Approval Form » This form must be submitted when completing the Summer Research Program Application.
The deadline for submission of applications is March 14. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for fellowships
Travel awards are available to attend national research conferences based on participation in the Summer Research Program and availability of funds.
Contact Information
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine students can send questions about the Summer Research Program to Dr. Esra Sahingur, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Student Research, sahingur@upenn.edu.