|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The primary responsibility of dental schools is to educate students to become clinically competent dentists, academicians and scholars. Within the context of scholarship one of the paramount responsibilities of dental education should be to train dental researchers. Unfortunately, the training of basic researchers in dental areas has lagged far behind research training in other clinical areas. Indeed, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health in America has concluded that the nation’s dental schools must assume leadership roles not only in dental education but also in dental research Although research is accepted as a fundamental mission of dental education, many dental schools are only minimally involved in research. There are a number of reasons for this, the primary ones being limited funding for dental research, and a dearth of capable researchers. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has emphasized that dental schools must move closer to the academic research model currently followed by medical schools and some academic health centers The NJDS PhD program in Oral Biology is specifically designed to address the issues related to the shortage of research faculty in dental sciences The key reason for this shortage results from a significant number of open, unfilled positions in the basic sciences coupled with an existing science faculty that is aging and will retire shortly, thereby creating an even more urgent need. Our program addresses this shortage by providing research trained individuals who will be in a position to enrich the educational experience of dental students, strengthen the stature of dentistry within the university and provide building blocks for the future that can change the way in which dentistry is practiced. The NJDS-PhD program in Oral Biology is the only program in the State of New Jersey that offers a PhD degree with an emphasis on dental research GOALS:
Years 1 and 2: Didactic Courses: In compliance with the regulations of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – Newark (GSBS-Newark), students will be required to complete at least 40 course credits during the first two years of the program (Semesters 1-4), which will include eight credits from the core course (Molecular and Cellular Biology) of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Students also will be required to complete three 3-credit courses in oral biology (Anatomy and Physiology of the Oral Cavity, Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Oral Infection and Immunity), four semesters of Oral Biology Seminar (4 credits) and three laboratory rotations (2 credits each). The remainder of the 40 credits will be derived from a series of elective courses offered by the GSBS and by the Department of Oral Biology, based on the student’s research area of interest. Years 3-5: Thesis Research: Students will select their Thesis Advisor on the basis of lab rotations and, under the guidance of the Advisor, prepare a Research Proposal. The purpose of the thesis proposal is to outline the general direction of the student's research project and should be done within three months after successfully completing the qualifying examination. Once the proposal is prepared, a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) is formed to help guide the student during the doctoral research. The TAC normally consists of the thesis advisor (who chairs the committee) and two other GSBS-Newark faculty members, one of who is from outside the oral biology department. At the initial meeting of the TAC, the student presents the proposed research and members of the TAC offer suggestions and make recommendations; the thesis proposal requires approval by majority vote of the TAC. The recommendations of the TAC must be approved by the GSBS-Newark Executive Council. The Thesis Advisory Committee will meet with the student at least once every semester and will submit a written report to the program director and GSBS-N of the student’s progress. Students are encouraged to consult with members of the advisory committee for guidance at any time. Laboratory Research, Thesis Examination Committee and Defense of the Dissertation. Within one year after approval of the thesis proposal, and yearly thereafter, each student will present a departmental seminar based on his/her ongoing research. The purpose of these seminars is for students to obtain feedback from the faculty with respect to their research. The thesis research project will be considered complete when the thesis advisor and the TAC agree that the student has completed the research necessary to fulfill the requirements of the PhD degree. At this point the student begins writing the dissertation. The dissertation must be prepared in the format provided by the Graduate School. Admission Requirements All applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Admission will be competitive and dependent upon the availability of openings in the department. Candidates for admission will be evaluated on the basis of academic achievement, personal interviews, recommendations from former professors, and other data documenting academic performance and experience. Honors, awards, and professional experience in a major field of specialization also will be taken into consideration. Faculty for PhD Program in Oral Biology Dr. Daniel Fine, Professor, Director, Chairman Dr. Amalia Slomiany, Professor Dr. Bronislaw Slomiany, Professor Dr. Scott Diehl, Professor Dr. Gill Diamond, Associate Professor Dr. Jeffrey Kaplan, Associate Professor Dr. Chinnaswamy Kasinathan, Associate Professor Dr. Narayanan Ramasubbu, Associate Professor Dr. Vincent K. Tsiagbe, Associate Professor Dr. Scott Kachlany, Assistant Professor Dr. Daniel Kadouri, Assistant Professor Dr. Lisa Ryan, Assistant Professor Dr. Helen Schreiner, Assistant Professor |
|
||||||||||||
