Research Education in Oral Health Sciences (REOHS) Program
2025 REOHS program dates:
June 2, 2025 – July 31, 2025
- Application Deadline:
Monday, February 3, 2025
The 9-week Research Education in Oral Health Sciences program has two goals:
- Encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue further studies or careers in research;
- Increase representation** in the oral health sciences.
Housed in NYU Dentistry’s research labs and facilities, REOHS will provide an immersive summer experience through research, professional and educational workshops, and faculty and peer mentorship.
** "Certain racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, as well as individuals with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds, have historically faced barriers to participation in health-related research. These include individuals from specific racial and ethnic groups, those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and individuals from rural or underserved areas." For a full definition and more information, please refer to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) here.
Program Offerings
- Direct match with faculty research mentors at NYU Dentistry
- Classroom instruction in general research content, the responsible conduct of research, principles of translational research and introduction to clinical dentistry
- Hands-on research experience
- Individualized learning and career development opportunities
- Peer mentorship from current dental students
- Campus housing for select students
- Stipend
- Poster presentation
Required Application Materials
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Unofficial Transcript
- One Recommendation Letter (Academic Reference)
- Personal Statement
Program Administrator
- Annelise Olivares
- Lorel E. Burns, DDS, MS
- Rodrigo Lacruz, PhD
- Dr. Ana Di Gregorio, 2023
- Dr. Rajesh Khanna, 2023
- Dr. May Khanna, 2023
- Dr. Nigel Bunnett, 2023
- Dr. Rodrigo Lacruz, 2023-present
- Dr. Lukasz Witek, 2023-present
- Dr. Yi Ye, 2023-present
- Dr. Dane Jensen, 2023-present
- Dr. Farnaz Shamsi, 2023-present
- Dr. Nicola Partridge, 2023-2024
- Dr. Deepak Saxena, 2024-present
- Dr. Jean-Pierre Saint-Jeannet, 2024-present
- Dr. Lorel E. Burns, Program Director, MPI
- Dr. Rodrigo Lacruz, Director of Research Mentorship, MPI
- Dr. Jean-Pierre Saint-Jeannet
- Dr. Cheryline Pezzullo
- Dr. Nicola Partridge
- Dr. Eugenia Mejia, NYU Dentistry, Chair
- Dr. Melody Goodman, NYU School of Global Public Health
- Dr. Xinbin Gu, Howard University
- Dr. Herminio Perez, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
- Dr. Renaldo Alba, Fordham University
FAQs
Yes, accepted REOHS students receive a $5,000 stipend to support expenses during the program. Details on distribution will be provided upon acceptance.
Applicants must be current undergraduate students or high school seniors who are entering their freshman year of college.
Housing is available for a select number of participants. Please indicate on your application if you require housing and respond "yes" only if you are unable to commute from your permanent address. This distinction helps us prioritize housing for those with the greatest need.
The program is conducted in-person, Monday through Friday and includes both didactic and hands-on components. While you’ll be part of a cohort, you will primarily work independently in your assigned lab under the supervision of your Faculty Research Mentor. The curriculum includes hands-on research experiences, exposure to clinical and public health dentistry, professional development training, and mentorship from faculty across various departments at NYU Dentistry. Participants will also gain insights into patient-centered care and translational science.
Our faculty research mentors are based within the Department of Molecular Pathobiology at NYU Dentistry. To learn more about their specific areas of research, we encourage you to search for their names on the Molecular Pathobiology website, where detailed information about their work and expertise is available.
We generally do not recommend preparing for the DAT while in the REOHS program due to the significant demands of both the program and DAT study requirements.
Transportation costs are not covered. Accepted students will receive a stipend, which can be used to offset transportation expenses.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement & Safety Measures
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NYU has in place ongoing public health measures and requirements to ensure the safety of all University community members. As enrolled students in a summer program, all REOHS Program students coming to campus in person or participating in any in-person University-sponsored activities (whether on or off campus) must adhere to University guidelines and policies.
Below are highlights of these policies as of December 2023. More information, including updates as the pandemic evolves, can be found on the NYU COVID-19 Information website. Students will also receive COVID-19-related information via NYU email and at their program orientation.
Vaccination Requirement
All program participants are required to be fully vaccinated and boosted with an FDA-authorized or WHO-listed vaccine and submit vaccination records to the NYU Dentistry Health Screening Unit before the start of their program.
For more information, please contact reohsprogram@nyu.edu.
The REOHS program is funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): R25DE032528 (2022-2027); MPI, Lorel E. Burns, DDS, MS and Rodrigo Lacruz, PhD.
