Oral Biology, PhD
The PhD program provides training for those who wish to pursue basic and/or clinical research in dental medicine or the biomedical sciences. Candidates may include those with bachelor's, master's, or DDS (or equivalent) degrees.
FALL 2026 ENROLLMENT | Applications accepted June 1, 2025 - December 15, 2025
Program Co-Directors:
Dr. Jill Kramer
Department of Oral Biology
jkramer@buffalo.edu
Dr. Rose-Anne Romano
Department of Oral Biology
rromano2@buffalo.edu
Cost and Funding
Expenses and Financial Support
Students in our program receive full tuition support and stipends.
Sources of Support
The four most common sources of support are:
1. Faculty Grants
The trainee’s faculty mentor supports the trainee from their individual research award, most commonly a NIH research grant.
2. Department’s NIH T32 Training Grant
3. PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS)
PhD trainees only. PPBS is an “entry portal” for PhD students in the biomedical sciences at UB that provides a common first-year curriculum and full salary and tuition support for 1 year. Students rotate through labs in multiple biomedical sciences departments across the university – including Oral Biology – before aligning with a PhD mentor for the remainder of their PhD training.
4. Individual Fellowships
Trainees receiving any of the forms of support above are also typically expected to submit individual fellowship applications to appropriate research sponsors, most commonly NIH. U.S. citizens or foreign nationals may submit individual training award applications to NIH for programs including the Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (F31) and the Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32). Trainees holding a clinical doctoral degree (MD, DDS/DMD, or equivalent) are eligible for other NIH programs, including the Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08).
Please also note the following:
Effective Fall 2024:
$30,797 as the campus minimum for full time, fully funded PhD students on 12-month appointments.
The University's Office of Financial Aid website can assist students with questions regarding educational expenses. They are also available to meet with students one-on-one.