UConn-NIDCR T90/R90 Research Training Program

The UConn-NIDCR T90/R90 Research Training Program at the UConn School of Dental Medicine supports and enhances the training of individuals preparing to be independent scientists in academics, industry and government, and related careers. The program is an interdisciplinary, research-intensive training program that is supported by a T90/R90 grant from the NIH/NIDCR. The program primarily focuses on skeletal, craniofacial and oral biology research. Research mentors are from the School of Dental Medicine, the School of Medicine and the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine with additional advisors and resources available at the UConn Storrs campus. Research strengths in the program are described under the faculty links.

The UConn program provides training in three tracks. The links to each track provide information on admissions, curriculum and faculty.

• D.M.D./Ph.D. Program
• Traditional Ph.D.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships

Mina Mina, D.M.D., M.S.D., Ph.D. T90/R90 Co-Director Professor and Chair Division of Pediatric Dentistry

Frank C. Nichols, D.D.S., Ph.D. T90/R90 Co-Director Professor Division of Periodontology

D.M.D./Ph.D. Track

The School of Dental Medicine sponsors a program leading to joint D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. It is designed for a small number of outstanding students who are interested in research and have the motivation and the ability to pursue a rigorous training program in this area. The program is designed to train individuals who are interested in pursuing research related to Oral and Craniofacial Sciences and Health and interested in careers in academic dentistry and beyond.

The program provides a comprehensive D.M.D. and Ph.D. education and training that draws upon the strong curriculum of the School of Dental Medicine and excellent and diverse research faculty in Biomedical Science in the Graduate School. Completion of the D.M.D./Ph.D. program positions the individual for subsequent training in postdoctoral research programs or combined postdoctoral research/clinical certificate training. This training provides a natural transition for the D.M.D./Ph.D. graduate to move into more advanced clinical and research training.

All trainees must be U.S. Citizens or permanent U.S. residents. Trainees receive a stipend and financial support covering the cost of tuition, health insurance, and limited research related expenses and travel.

Applicants interested in the D.M.D./Ph.D. program must apply for the D.M.D. program at UConn Health and therefore should follow the requirements listed for Admissions to the School of Dental Medicine. Applicants should indicate their interest in the combined program in their personal statement. In addition, they should submit a separate letter of interest in the combined training addressed to Dr. Mina as early as possible.

Mina Mina, D.M.D., M.S.D., Ph.D.
Director, D.M.D./Ph.D. Program
Department of Pediatric Dentistry
263 Farmington Avenue, MC 1610
Farmington, CT 06030
Email: mina@uchc.edu

Qualified applicants will be interviewed by the D.M.D./Ph.D. admission committee during their visit for the interview for dental school. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Mina before making travel arrangement for their visit to UConn Health.

Applicants can also apply to the D.M.D./Ph.D. program during the first two years of the D.M.D. program. Interested students should contact Dr. Mina.

The D.M.D./Ph.D. trainees normally complete both programs, including the Ph.D. dissertation, in a period of approximately 7-8 academic years, including summers. The program integrates both D.M.D. and Ph.D. programs in three phases.

Phase One (Two Years)

In phase one, students pursue the first two years of the traditional D.M.D. curriculum. All dental students participate with the medical students in the Basic Medical Science (BMS) program as provided by the faculties of the Medical, Dental and Graduate Schools. Laboratory-based preclinical activities, such as operative dentistry and prosthodontics, are not taken in the second year but are taken in the year preceding re-entry into the third year of the D.M.D. curriculum before entering the patient care phase of the dental curriculum.

D.M.D./Ph.D. trainees will also complete one or two research laboratory rotations in the summers between Y01-02 and Y02-03. In the summer between Y02-03, in addition to working in the lab, students prepare for and take the National Board Dental Examination. By the end of the summer of the second year, each trainee selects their major advisor, from the program’s Faculty and the area of concentration, for their Ph.D. studies.

Phase Two (Three to Four Years)

In phase two, the trainees enter the Graduate School as full time students to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements of the Biomedical Science Ph.D. Program and of the specific area of concentration. During this phase, students follow the milestones/timeline in the Ph.D. in Biomedical Science.

Late in phase two, the trainee will defend their thesis and take the necessary preclinical courses and laboratory work to bring their clinical skills to the level necessary for patient care at the start of Y03 of the D.M.D. curriculum.

Phase Three (Two Years)

In phase three, the trainee completes the D.M.D. requirements. The third and fourth year of clinical training is a comprehensive-care continuum for which competencies have been established to monitor progress toward and suitability for graduation. The trainee, while engaged in the D.M.D. clinical practicum, continues to participate in research activities in their mentor’s laboratory.

Core Activities

To provide a solid, common foundation, all trainees in each of the three tracks of the T90 training program participate in core activities. In addition to providing important training elements, the core activities provide opportunities for both formal and informal interaction between trainees in various disciplines, in the three training tracks, and at various stages in their training. Please see our Core Activities for more information.

Ph.D. Track

UConn Health offers a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science (B.M.S.) designed to educate individuals dedicated to pursuing careers as scientists and scholars in biological and biomedical science in a wide variety of settings including academia, the private sector and in government service. To achieve this goal, an academic environment is maintained which fosters creative thinking and supports programs leading to excellence in scholarship, research and teaching. The program is dedicated to quality education tailored to the needs of the individual student. A detailed program description and information about laboratory rotations, the B.M.S. areas of concentration, the application process, and financial aid can be found at the UConn Graduate School.

The T90 Ph.D. track is available for trainees who wish to undertake Ph.D. training following their B.A./B.S. degree or after completion of their dental training. Ph.D. students interested in support from the T90 must first be accepted into the B.M.S. Graduate Program. Priority for T90 support is given to students who are at least in their second year of training, have selected an Area of Concentration, and have chosen a major advisor who is a T90 faculty member for their thesis project. Applicants for the T90 Ph.D. track are nominated by their major advisor.

All B.M.S. Ph.D. trainees receive financial support that includes a stipend, and tuition and health insurance support. The T90 partially relieves the faculty advisor from providing support and additionally provides limited funds for research related expenses and travel. Ph.D. trainees are also encouraged to prepare and submit a F31 application to NIH for individual support.

NIH requires that all T90 applicants be citizens or permanent U.S. residents.

Trainees and T90 mentors from all areas of concentration are encouraged to apply. While the major advisor nominates and applies for the T90 support, trainees are encouraged to contact the program director, Dr. Mina Mina for additional information.

Core Activities

To provide a solid, common foundation, all trainees in each of the three T90 tracks participate in core activities. In addition to providing important training elements, the core activities provide opportunities for both formal and informal interaction between trainees in various disciplines, in the three training tracks, and at various stages in their training. Please see our core activities for more information.

Postdoctoral Fellowships

1. Traditional post-Ph.D. basic science training.

2. Post-D.M.D. training.

2a. Post-D.M.D. interested in Biomedical Science Ph.D. training Ph.D. track requirements.

2b. Post-D.M.D. interested in advanced basic science research training, but not seeking a Ph.D. degree.

3.  Post-D.M.D. or post-Ph.D. interested in clinical and translational research training.

Traditional Post-Ph.D. Postdoc

Trainees who enter the program with a Ph.D. will focus largely on advanced research training with their mentors and training for an independent research career.

Post-D.M.D. Trainees

We anticipate that trainees in this category will have various backgrounds and career goals. Therefore, each program will be custom designed based on their individual experiences and needs. Trainees who undertake postdoctoral research training without a Ph.D. or extensive research training may need additional formal training. They will audit graduate level courses in Biomedical Science as appropriate for their background and their research project. Post-D.M.D. trainees interested in Ph.D. training can also be supported.

Post-D.M.D. or Post-Ph.D. Clinical and Translational Research Training

This track provides opportunities for both D.M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s interested in training in clinical and translational research. Depending on their previous training, candidates may need further didactic training in this discipline and could enter the two-year Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research (MSCTR) Program.

Research and Training Plan

Each postdoctoral trainee will have a primary mentor, at least one additional scientific mentor to be selected by the trainee and primary mentor, and an appropriate representative from the T90 Steering Committee. As part of the T90 application process, the trainee, with the guidance of the mentor, will prepare a research prospectus (similar to a grant application) that will include background, specific aims, experimental approaches to be used, a research timetable, and appropriate references. This initial research prospectus serves as a guide for the research project. The trainee and mentor will also prepare an individual development plan (IDP), describing the activities that will prepare the trainee for an independent career. This plan could include course work, development of writing and presentation skills, training in mentoring students, preparing grants, lab management, and participation in scientific conferences.

Postdoctoral trainees (citizens or permanent U.S. residents) will, in their first year of support, either prepare and submit an F32 application or write a research grant application that is at or near a stage of readiness for submission.

Core Activities

To provide a solid, common foundation, all T90 trainees, including all postdoctoral trainees, participate in core activities. In addition to providing important training elements, the core activities provide opportunities for both formal and informal interaction between trainees in various disciplines, in all training tracks, and at various stages in their training. Please see our core activities for more information.

Application Process, Support

Candidates interested in postdoctoral training support from the T90 must first identify and be accepted into the laboratory of a T90 mentor. Once working in the laboratory, the mentor and the candidate together apply for a T90 when the availability of positions is announced. As an NIH-funded program, applicants must be citizens or permanent U.S. residents. We also have one postdoctoral position for a foreign trained dentist that is supported by the R90 training program. Applicants for this position must be foreign and NOT a citizen or permanent U.S. resident.

Trainees receive a stipend and financial support covering health insurance, limited research related expenses, and travel.

Core Activities

To provide a solid, common foundation, all trainees in each of the three tracks participate in core activities. In addition to providing important training elements, the Core Activities provide opportunities for both formal and informal interaction between trainees in various disciplines, in the three training tracks, and at various stages in their training.

There Are Six Core Activities:

Monthly Meetings serve as the unifying activity for all supported trainees throughout the duration of their training. The primary purposes of the monthly meeting are to:

• Allow trainees to give informal updates on their research.
• Facilitate interaction and develop cohesiveness among all trainees.
• Acknowledge accomplishments and address concerns.
• Discuss training grant administrative issues with trainees.
• Provide programs and information on career and grant opportunities.
• Provide supplemental training on responsible conduct of research.
• Allow the program directors to hear directly from the trainees about their progress.

These meetings provide an opportunity for trainees to present to a diverse audience. We believe there is real synergy to be gained by developing a more cohesive group. The students learn from each other, help each other, and by example, establish a common expected rate of progress and career directions. The monthly meetings may also include specific sessions on:

• Publications (who is an author and why; who is not an author).
• Intellectual property (preparing invention disclosures, managing confidential. information, working with industry, commercialization of research results, licensing versus start-up company).
• Preparation of manuscripts (when is there enough data for a publication, how do you get started, how do you maintain momentum, referencing and plagiarism, tools such as Photoshop and EndNote).
• Preparation of your first independent grant proposal.

The trainees themselves set the agenda for each monthly meeting.

Training in Responsible Conduct of Research

Training in responsible conduct of research is covered through institutional training programs, but will be supplemented by additional sessions for all trainees on the training grant.

Craniofacial and Oral Biology Course

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of present and future research opportunities and challenges in craniofacial and oral biology. An emphasis is placed on the underlying mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of craniofacial and oral disorders, the identification of unsolved questions, and consideration of possible approaches to investigate these questions. Each week various faculty, usually currently funded by NIH/NIDCR, present on selected topics describing the background and current status of the field. Later in the week the class discusses a contemporary research article in the field. During the course trainees prepare two very brief research proposals and receive one-on-one feedback from a faculty expert. The proposals are then reviewed by the class in NIH “study section” format. The course is offered in alternate years.

Training in Grant Preparation

All trainees are expected to prepare and submit a grant application for their continued support after 1-2 years of research training. We provide specific training sessions for grant preparation. Our faculty have had experience in reviewing training (F), career development (K), small research grants (R03), and traditional R01-type proposals.

Annual Symposium

All trainees attend and present their work at our Annual Symposium.

The format of the symposium provides participants an opportunity to present their work in a structure and environment similar to most national and international scientific conferences. Career development sessions are usually part of this annual cap-stone event.

Weekly Journal Club

All trainees participate in at least one weekly journal club appropriate to their area of research training. These journal clubs not only provide education of current scientific activity, but offer valuable experience with analyzing, interpreting and evaluating peer-reviewed publications. Trainees also have opportunities to present their own work and gain feedback from a variety of faculty and other students.

More About Us

The NIH/NIDCR supported UConn-NIDCR T90/R90 Research Training Program at the UConn School of Dental Medicine prepares individuals for careers in academics, industry, government and other related fields. Our research training programs have been funded by NIH/NIDCR for over 25 years. Our graduates are faculty, department heads and deans at major universities; direct clinical trials at pharmaceutical companies; develop educational programs at various academic levels; or pursue a range of other career paths.

Our program supports trainees in three different tracks. The links to each track provide information on admissions, curriculum and faculty. Trainees need to be accepted into a degree program or research laboratory before applying to the T90/R90 for support.

• D.M.D./Ph.D
• Traditional Ph.D.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships

Trainees work closely with their major advisor to develop a custom program of education and research training. In an open, collegial environment, we learn together in the classrooms, laboratories, journal clubs and at national and inter-national conferences and meetings. Meet Our Trainees and see what they are doing!

Ph.D. in Biomedical Science Areas of Concentration

Cell Analysis and Modeling (CAM)

Cell Biology (CB)

Genetics and Developmental Biology (GDB)

Immunology (IM)

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB)

Neuroscience (NS)

Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology (SCOB)

Our Faculty is the strength of the training program. The faculty are active, funded, independent researchers working on a wide range of biomedical and oral/craniofacial challenges. Most faculty work in collaborative teams, so trainees are exposed to multidisciplinary research areas. The research interests of our faculty are broad, with examples including: skeletal biology, osteogenesis, development, tissue engineering, repair, and regeneration, genetics, the oral microbiome, extracellular matrix biology, and progenitor/stem cell biology.

Graduate education at UConn Health leading to the Ph.D. degree is unified under the Biomedical Science Ph.D. (B.M.S./Ph.D) program.

In a recent evaluation of University of Connecticut graduate programs by the Committee for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Programs, the B.M.S./Ph.D. program was rated as having “national distinction.” This umbrella program is comprised of 156 graduate faculty and 7 thematic areas of concentration listed in the adjacent table. The composition of the graduate faculty of each area of concentration is interdepartmental and crosses the boundaries between the School of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine and the Graduate School. UConn Health faculty sponsor approximately 175 Ph.D. students and 120 postdoctoral fellows in UConn Health’s various departments and centers. Many faculty participate in more than one area of concentration. Our T90/R90 training program is closely associated with Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology (SCOB), but we have had trainees in almost all of the areas of concentration.