Besides the UFCD Summer Research Program for the incoming freshmen students, UFCD provides multiple opportunities for dental students to become involved in research during the academic years.
Students with an abstract and a poster are invited to participate in UFCD's annual Research Day event. Students will choose to present their research findings through oral or poster presentations. Cash prizes are given to the first three places.
The students can start a research project at any time during their dental school education, although many students chooose to participate during their D1 summer semester and their D3 years.
SRG suggests the following steps on How to Start a Research Project:
1. Identify a faculty memtor. Click to download: Faculty Research for available mentors.
2. Read your potential mentors' research background & recent publication to make sure that is also the area you're interested in.
3. Have a goal in mind, for example, what do you want from the research experience? --laboratory trainings, poster presentation at the national meetings, publications, or a future career in academia?
4. Contact the mentor. The best way is to make an appointment and talk to the mentor in person.
5. Discuss with your mentor about your goals and design a research project with your mentor that fits both you and your mentor's interest, your educational level, and the supplies & equipment available.
Confused about how to make a research poster? Download this powerpoint presentation which will be sure to help you out? Research Poster