Student Research

From the classroom, to the chairside, to the community, UAB School of Dentistry continues to build on our strong tradition of preparing the next generation of academicians and scientists to impact the oral health of our nation and the world.

With a variety of activities available, students can engage in oral health research throughout their educational journey. Undergraduate students can get underway by joining the Predental Society and participating in our summer research partnerships. Dental students can highligh their studies at our annual Scholars Symposium and become members of the school's student research group.

In addition to these opportunities, D.M.D. and pre- and post-doctoral students pursuing basic or clinical research are eligible for support through the Dental Academic Research Training (DART) Program. DART provides a broadened interdisciplinary research experience for exceptionally motivated trainees in a research-intensive collaborative academic environment.

Student Research Activities

Explore the ways you can participate in research as a student.

  • Scholars Symposium

    Scholars Symposium

    scholars symposiumSave the Date:

    Thursday, March 2, 2023

    Scholars Symposium is an annual event highlighting interdisciplinary bench and clinical research within our five clusters of scientific expertise.

    The event provides a venue for our team and guests to discuss a broad range of topics associated with the methods and outcomes of oral health, dental, and craniofacial research. It also fosters interactions between the School of Dentistry and other schools across campus, as well as UAB’s interdisciplinary centers.

    How to Participate

    Research presented is the work of our students completed during their enrollment at the school. Students initiate the process by submitting an abstract according to the event guidelines. Once approved, each participant prepares a poster describing the background, results and conclusions to their research project. Judges, who are members of the UAB research community, review the presentations and select students to receive recognition for their research presentations.

    A Call for Abstracts is distributed each year in January and contains information about participation. Details are also available on the school’s Scholars Symposium site on Sharepoint.

  • UAB SOD Student Research Group

    UAB SOD Student Research Group

    Affiliated with the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) National Student Research Group (NSRG) is a student-run organization that increases awareness of the importance of dental research, promotes student participation in research, and provides networking opportunities among students and faculty members. It is a platform whereby students interested in enriching their dental education through research are encouraged to do so.

    AADOCR NSRG is composed of a network of self-governing local student research group (SRG) chapters at each dental school and is led nationally by officers elected through a majority of votes from all members.

    Check out our upcoming SRG events on the UAB Campus Calendar.

  • Pre-Dental Society

    Pre-Dental Society

    UAB's Pre-Dental Society is a student-run organization for students pursuing careers in dentistry. It represents students with a unified voice and provides information, education, advocacy, and services. The association introduces lifelong involvement in organized dentistry, and promotes change for the betterment of the profession. Meetings are held on campus approximatively once a month.

    For more information about how to join the pre-dental society and attend meetings please visit the Pre-Dental Society Facebook Page, follow @uab_predental on Instagram or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

    Visit the UAB Campus Calendar for upcoming Pre-Dental Society events.

  • Summer Research Partnerships

    Summer Research Partnerships

    UAB School of Dentistry participates in and hosts students through several campus-based biomedical sciences summer partnerships. Students from the UAB Center for Community Outreach Development (CORD) and the UAB Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC) are placed in the school’s various labs, giving them valuable exposure to laboratory research. Faculty are also available to mentor and provide lectures for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Partnership Research Student Training Program (PRSTP).

    For information about undergraduate research placements, contact:

    Dr. Hope Amm
    SOD Representative to the University Wide Undergraduate Research Advisory Committee (URAC)
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    (205) 934-5405

    Dr. Amjad Javed
    Associate Dean for Research
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    (205) 996-5124

Contact Us

Amjad Javed, MSc., Ph.D.

Interim Associate Dean of Research
SDB 714
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(205) 996-5124

Kelsey Hoggatt

Business Officer II
SDB 715
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(205) 996-7998

Chris Washington

Program Coordinator II
SDB 704
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Research Seminars