Student Research
Summer Research
For DDS, DH, & BDH students
Research Projects for summer 2025 will be advertised by March 2025.
The (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
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.
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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 - Â鶹´«Ã½
NSERC- USRA (For undergraduate students in other programs)
This program is closed for applications. Please check again in Jan 2025.
The Faculty of Dentistry is pleased to offer an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA NSERC) to eligible undergraduate students. Summer research awards provide paid employment opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in scientific research at Â鶹´«Ã½ during the summer.
- Carefully review the eligibility criteria below.
- Find a potential faculty supervisor. Contact Faculty of Dentistry professors to determine if they are available to supervise a USRA student. See Our Researchers page for contact information.
- Complete, with your prospective supervisor, the .
- Submit your application and most recent transcript to research.dentistry@dal.ca. Applications are due 7 Feb 2024.
To be eligible to apply for an award:
- you must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a Protected Person under subsection 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), as of the deadline date for applications at the institution
- you must be registered, as of the deadline date for applications at the institution, in a bachelor’s degree program at an eligible institution
- you must have obtained, over the previous years of study, a satisfactory cumulative average (normally at least B; check with your institution)
- you cannot be currently enrolled in an undergraduate professional degree program in the health sciences (e.g., MD, DDS, BScN)
- you cannot be currently registered or have been previously registered, at any time, in a graduate program in the same field of study
- you cannot have completed all your degree requirements
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
Additional requirements to are available at