For Faculty, Staff, Post-Docs

Introduce yourself to the other members of your department and learn what types of research they are doing. We recommend you work with your department chair to establish an initial mentoring committee that will help to guide you over the first few years of your career UB. You can also contact the senior associate dean for research to discuss your research background and plans for building your research program.

• New tenure-track faculty: Begin to develop your laboratory (if you're a bench scientist) and/or clinical capabilities for the performance of your research.
• New research staff and postdoctoral fellows: Work with your primary mentor to understand the lab/clinic's current research goals and capabilities and how you fit into that picture. 

The following resources are available to all dental school faculty.

Some departments support their own grant administrators, while other departments share an administrator on a part-time basis. Check with your department chair for your department grant administrator's name and contact information. The university's office of Office of Research and Economic Development also provides many grant administrative services, but does not prepare purchase requisitions or personnel appointments. 

The SDM Office of Research Support (ORS) was established to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the research endeavors of SDM faculty, trainees and students. ORS aids in developing proposals to outside funding agencies and tools for standardization of budgeting. ORS also provides oversight management of sponsored programs. It has the responsibility of ensuring compliance with sponsors and university expectations for managing sponsored program funds. Additionally, ORS serves as a resource for the SDM regarding sponsor policies and federal regulations. In this role, ORS:

• Provides assistance across the entire grant life cycle (pre- and post-award).
• Serves as a resource for the UBSDM regarding sponsor guidelines and applicable federal, state and local regulations.
• Provides training in pre- and post-award grants management.
• Hosts workshops, seminars and trainings related to grant writing.
• Organizes the annual UBSDM Student Research Day and assists with administration of the Summer Dental Research Program and Dental Honors Thesis.

For more information, please contact Dr. Keith Kirkwood. 

The Clinical Research Core (CRC) is advancing oral health through innovative and collaborative research. In an environment that promotes scientific discovery and the integration of evidence-based practices in dentistry, we provide investigators with comprehensive support in study design, development and implementation and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. Read more about the Clinical Research Core. 

If you're seeking students to work with you on your research project, consider what type of students would be the best fit.

• Graduate Students and/or Clinical Postgraduates: The directors of the dental school's advanced education programs can recommend students who are looking for a research project. Be clear about whether you have funding for a student stipend and tuition and whether you want someone part time or full time.
• Dental Students: Contact the Dental Student Research Group and offer to be a research mentor.
• Undergraduate Students (Pre-baccalaureate): Start with UB’s Exploratory & Pre-Professional Advising Center, particularly the prehealth group and its associated prehealth clubs.

It can be a good idea to change the specific focus of your research, particularly if you have hit a long “dry spell” without research funding. But how do you do that without affecting your scholarly productivity or the support of people in your laboratory? Think carefully about a new or modified research focus. For example:

• What is your expertise in the area?
• What is the outlook for research funding in this area? 
• What resources will you need to establish or refine your expertise and laboratory/clinical capabilities to address the challenges of the new area?
• Who are the likely and collegial collaborators?

One way to maintain scholarly productivity while plotting your new course is to do an extensive literature search that links your more traditional research area with the new area. This literature search should then be prepared as a manuscript for submission to a scientific journal. Good review articles tend to be frequently cited and can improve the journal’s and your own “impact factor.”