Oral & Craniofacial Sciences PhD

Combine an interest for lifelong learning with discovery. Our Oral & Craniofacial Sciences (OCS), in concert with the School of Graduate studies, offers a doctoral program that allows our scientists to research pioneering fields while achieving the highest level of learning. As part of the Inter-disciplinary PhD program, students with OCS as their Primary Discipline must select a Co-Discipline that will be a good match for their research interests. The program varies from three to five years depending on a student’s academic background and abilities. Work culminates with an interdisciplinary PhD in Oral and Craniofacial sciences degree and the designated co-discipline or co-disciplines. A list of potential co-disciplines is included in the PhD admission process tab.

Within the OCS Department, there are three areas of research focus:

Biomaterials/Bioengineering of Biological Tissues and Replacements

The overall goal of this program is to apply an integrated approach involving innovative computer modeling and organic synthesis, novel biocompatibility evaluation, comprehensive materials characterization, and mechanistic development of improved dental biomaterials. One component of this program is an engineering component that emphasizes micro- and nano-structure/property characterization of natural biomaterials such as bone, dentin, and enamel as a tissue engineering approach to the development of replacement materials.

Mineralized Tissue Biology

This program is aimed at determining basic biological mechanisms and the cause and treatment of disease of bone and teeth during development and in the adult. Approaches include the use of basic in vitro methods combined with genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and transgenic technology.

Translational and Clinical Research

Translational and clinical research involves results from clinical observations translating into basic research and incorporates basic research findings into clinical assessment and practice. The identification, characterization and synthesis of materials for clinical use requires the combined efforts and expertise of clinical scientists, biostatisticians, bioengineers, geneticists, life scientists, chemists, physicists, and computer scientists.