Student Research
Summer Research
For DDS, DH, & BDH students
Research Projects for summer 2025 will be advertised by March 2025.
The Summer Research Program (SRP) aims to build research capacity and training within the Faculty of Dentistry. The projects funded by the SRP will provide research training and experience that will benefit undergraduate Faculty of Dentistry students. While supportive of a broad spectrum of research areas (basic science, clinical, education, community, and population health), this program is intended for students within the Faculty of Dentistry (DDS, DH and BDH).
In 2024, summer research projects will range from 8-10 weeks in duration.
Faculty project proposals will be received on Feburary 12, 2024. Available projects and applications forms will be released for students by March 1, 2024.
Please contact the Managing Director of Research and Graduate Studies for further information (email: research.dentistry@dal.ca).
ILA Summer Student Research Scholarships OPEN FOR 2025
Applications are open for the 2025 Summer Session
Imhotep's Legacy Academy and The Faculty of Dentistry are pleased to offer an Undergraduate Summer Research Scholarship Award.
For further information on the application process and eligibility please visit Summer Research & Internships – Imhotep's Legacy Academy (ILA).
Some projects required Research Ethics Approval before they begin. Projects will be available provided approval is in place before the summer semester begins.
Research Opportunities
1. Project title: "Controlling surface chemistry of biosourced nanoparticles for controlled release of drugs"
Supervisor: Vahid Adibnia, Department of Biomaterials & Applied Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry
Project Description: Nanoparticles are attractive candidates for drug delivery due to their versatile surface properties. They have been used extensively for drug delivery applications for cancer treatment, immunomodulation, and infection prevention. In this project, we aim at developing novel nanoparticles from natural polymeric components that are capable of drug loading and release in a controlled manner. The trainees will gain skills in polymer synthesis, nanoparticle preparation and characterization, drug loading and release kinetics and will be engaged with a collaborative research team to conduct this research.
See www.adiblab.com
2. Project Title: "Does the participation in service-learning activities impact the sense of social responsibility among oral health care providers?"
Supervisor: Abdulrahman Ghoneim, School of Dental Hygiene
Co-Supervisors: Violet D'Souza, Dept of Dental Clinical Sciences and Shauna Hachey, School of Dental Hygiene
Project description: Social responsibility (SR) is a critical attribute in healthcare, emphasizing trust, dependability, and the commitment to improving societal health. Engaging in service-learning activities (S-L)—an educational approach combining academic learning with community service—has been shown to foster altruistic values and an appreciation among healthcare providers towards the needs of marginalized populations. Despite its importance, little is known about how S-L influences SR among oral healthcare providers. This project investigates the relationship between the exposure to S-L activities and the sense of SR among dentists, dental hygienists, and denturists. The trainee will gain experience in questionnaire development, participant recruitment, data analysis, and academic communication.
Contact: abdulrahman.ghoneim@dal.ca
Our Researchers - Faculty of Dentistry - Dalhousie University
Project 3
Supervisor: Dr. Anjali Bhagirath, Department of Dental CLinical Sciences
Co-Supervisor: Violet D'Souza, Department of Dental Clinical Sciences
Title: Understanding Barriers to Oral Health Care in African Nova Scotians: A Questionnaire-Based Study
Project Description: This summer research project will explore barriers to oral health care among African Nova Scotians through a community-focused questionnaire study. Despite growing awareness of the importance of oral health, disparities persist, particularly in historically marginalized communities. This project aims to identify socioeconomic, cultural, geographic, and systemic barriers that may impact access to dental care and preventive services. The student will administer a structured questionnaire, collecting data on perceived challenges, accessibility issues, financial constraints, practices, attitudes, and experiences with dental care either in-person, virtually or over the phone. The study will employ qualitative and quantitative analysis methods to assess patterns in responses and highlight key areas for policy intervention. Findings from this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of inequities in oral health care access and may help inform community-driven solutions and public health strategies to improve oral health outcomes in African Nova Scotian communities. This project will provide the student with valuable experience in survey design, data collection, and health disparities research, fostering skills in community-based research and public health policy analysis.
contact: anjali.bhagirath@dal.ca
website: www.mhdlab.org
NSERC- USRA (For undergraduate students in other programs) OPEN FOR 2025
Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) are meant to nurture your interest and fully develop your potential for a research career in health, natural sciences and engineering, or social sciences and humanities. These awards are also meant to encourage you to undertake graduate studies by providing research work experience that complements your studies in an academic setting.
Dalhousie Faculty of Dentistry has been allocated funding for one NSERC USRA position. Institutions may recommend applications from self-identified Indigenous student researchers for USRAs beyond their allocation of awards.
The duration of the award is 14 to 16 weeks on a full-time basis (35 hours per week). Funding (provided by NSERC and the proposed supervisor) provides full time pay for the duration of the award (Minimum wage + 4% vacation pay). The award is payable via Dal payroll.
To hold an award:
- you must have completed all course requirements for at least the first year of study (or two academic terms) of your bachelor’s degree
- you must have been registered in a bachelor’s degree program at the time of application and in at least one of the two terms immediately before holding the award
- you cannot be registered in a graduate program
Additional eligibility requirements are listed at NSERC - Undergraduate Student Research Awards. Please confirm your eligibility before you apply.
If you plan to take more than two courses during the NSERC USRA, you must have approval from your supervisor and inform us so that Dalhousie Office of Research Services can request formal approval from NSERC.
To Apply:
Applications are due March 7, 2025
Students can apply via NSERC form 202 part 1. Potential supervisors are required to fill out form 202 part 2. This form is available at NSERC - Undergraduate Student Research Awards. Please let us know when your application has been completed so we can confirm it is in the online application portal.
For questions please contact research.dentistry@dal.ca