Student Research Resources

Access guidebooks and forms from the Office of Research, covering policies, deadlines, and important information for DMD, MMSc, and DMSc programs.

student presenting her research in front of a large screen

DMD program

The DMD research guidebook provides key details on the scholarly project requirements, research tracks, mentorship selection, and milestones to help you succeed in your academic and research endeavors. Whether you're exploring basic science, clinical, translational, or global health research, this guide equips you with the tools and support needed to complete your project and contribute meaningfully to advancements in dental medicine.

MMSc program

The MMSc research guidebook is your comprehensive resource for navigating the research requirements and opportunities at HSDM. It provides detailed guidance on research timelines, coursework, events, mentor selection, thesis advising, and key milestones. Designed to support your journey as a clinician-scholar, this guide equips you with the tools and knowledge needed to excel in your research endeavors and make meaningful contributions to the field of dentistry.

Guidebook updated 7/2025

MMSc research timetable

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Pass Fundamentals of Research —fall	—	—
Attend Faculty Research Day—fall	—	—
Select research advisor and design project—fall deadline	—	—
Select thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	—	Select thesis defense committee—March 1 deadline
Meeting #1 with thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	Meeting #2 with thesis advisory committee — fall deadline	Meeting #3 with thesis advisory committee (meeting #3) —fall deadline
Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Present at AGE Seminar Series—spring
Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Present at Student Research Day—April
—	—	Defend thesis and submit to Harvard Countway Library—April 15 deadline

MMSc Oral Medicine program research timetable

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
Pass Fundamentals of Research —fall	Select thesis advisory committee—fall deadline	—	Select thesis defense committee—March 1 deadline
Attend Faculty Research Day—fall	Meeting #1 with thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	Meeting #2 with thesis advisory committee—fall deadline	Meeting #3 with thesis advisory committee—fall deadline
Select research mentor and design project—fall deadline	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Present at AGE Seminar Series—spring
Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Present at Student Research Day—April
Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	—	—	Defend thesis and submit to Harvard Countway Library—April 15 deadline

Faculty Research Day

Event contact: Office of Research

Cadence: Faculty Research Day will be held each year in the beginning of September.

Evaluation: First-year MMSc students must attend Faculty Research Day. Attendance will be taken at the event.

Event overview: Research faculty from HSDM, HMS, and hospital affiliates will present their ongoing research projects. Attending the Faculty Research Day in Year 1 represents a great opportunity to learn about available projects and to meet research faculty.

Office of Research seminar series

Event contact: Office of Research

Cadence: Faculty Research Day will be held each year in the beginning of September.

Evaluation: DMSc students in their research year must attend all seminar sessions (100%). DMSc in Oral Biology Research must attend all Seminar session throughout their program (100%). All other AGE students must attend a minimum of 50% of the seminar sessions.

Event overview: These are monthly invited talks by faculty from external institutions on their ongoing research. Speakers are experts in their field of research, nominated by HSDM faculty.

HSDM Student Research Day

Event contact: Office of Research

Cadence: Student Research Day will be held each year in the beginning of April.

Evaluation: Attendance for all students will be collected at the event.

Event overview: The primary focus of this all-day event is for graduating DMD, MMSc, and DMSc students to showcase their research to faculty and fellow students.

Presente instructions:

Abstract submission – Deadline March 1st of Graduation Year. Presenters must submit an abstract of their research (500 words maximum unstructured, single-spaced paragraph for inclusion in an abstract booklet) and written permission to present from their Research Advisor. Submissions will be made via Canvas.
Poster presentation - All graduating students are required to present a poster. Further poster guidelines and templates will be circulated via Canvas leading up to the event.
Poster judging - The Office of Research awards “best poster” certificates for each student group, judged by HSDM faculty and postdoctoral research fellows, using the following criteria:
- Student familiarity with topic, oral presentation skill, and level of engagement with project
- Significance and innovation of project
- Strength of methodological approach

Select research advisor

Deadline Fall Year 1

Form: Research Advising Agreement Form
Overview: The importance of advisor and project selection should not be overlooked – they are crucial to the quality of your experience and the successful completion of your requirements. The Research Advisor will guide students in all aspects of development of the thesis topic, as well as with the preparation and presentation for thesis advisory committee meetings. Be sure to critically assess the research environment offered by the advisor.
Finding an advisor: Attending the Faculty Research Day in Year 1 represents a great opportunity to learn about available projects and to meet research faculty. The most comprehensive database of faculty research is on the Harvard Catalyst website. Please contact the Office of Research and/or Director for Student Research, Dr. Gori (francesca_gori@hsdm.harvard.edu), for assistance identifying an advisor.

Design project

Deadline Fall Year 1

Forms: None
Overview: It is essential that the specific aims of the project be clearly delineated and feasible within the available timeframe. Students should expect to devote a considerable amount of time to this step.
Obtain ethics approval for study from IRB/IACUC: HSDM students are subject to the same policies, guidelines, and regulations as the Faculty of Medicine. It is therefore necessary for student research projects to be reviewed by the Office of Research Subject Protection. The Committee on Human Studies has an Internal Review Board that reviews all human subject-related research projects. The Standing Committee on Animals has an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee that reviews all animal subject-related research projects. Please note that HSDM’s policy is that students should not submit their own application; student research must be approved with the Research Advisor listed as Principal Investigator. Information on HMS/HSDM IRB and IACUC requirements and all relevant documents can be found on the website of the HMS Office for Research Compliance. If you have a question about whether your research needs an IRB review, contact them at orsp@hms.harvard.edu.
Complete research training: Students are required to obtain all appropriate HMS/HSDM institutional and site approvals (domestic or international) before commencing research activities. Coordinate with your Research Advisor to complete all trainings prior to beginning study activities.

Select thesis advisory committee

Deadline Spring Year 1

Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Approval & Responsibility Forms

Overview: The Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) advises and counsels students on their projects. Establishing your committee and holding regular meetings with them is a critical piece of your research progress. They will provide you with feedback and guidance that will help shape your final project. Please note that the research advisor must attend all meetings; although they are non-voting members of the Committee and do not serve as an official reader, the research advisor should participate in the discussion.

Committee Requirements: The membership of the Thesis Advisory Committee must be approved by your Program Director and the Director for Student Research before the first meeting is convened.

The MMSc TAC is comprised of a minimum of two faculty members with the following requirements:

Committed to attend all meetings (once per year through graduation)
Well-acquainted with the area of research
Full-time HSDM faculty appointment
At least one committee member must have an academic appointment of assistant professor or above

Special approval, on a case-by-case basis, may be obtained for the following modifications to the TAC member requirements. Please indicate on your Thesis Advisory Committee Approval Form your justification for including faculty that fall outside of regular requirements. You may be asked to obtain CVs for individuals who are not affiliated with Harvard University. If a committee member is not located in the Boston area, please additionally inform us of your plan to communicate and collaborate with that member.

Up to one committee member may a primary faculty appointment at an academic institution outside of HSDM
Up to one committee member may have a part-time HSDM faculty appointment

Thesis advisory committee meetings

The thesis advisory committee must be approved by the office of research prior to any thesis meetings. Failure to obtain approval may result in void meetings that must be repeated with an approved committee.

Meeting #1 (previously referred to as the thesis approval meeting)

Deadline: Spring Year 1

Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form (1)

Attendees: Student, Thesis Advisory Committee, Research Advisor (non-voting member of committee)

Meeting Preparation: Students must submit a written proposal to all members of the committee 7-10 days in advance of their scheduled meeting. Meeting Duration: Two hours Overview: At this meeting, students present their proposal for evaluation and approval by the TAC. The proposal should include:

Abstract
Background
Specific Aims
Methods
Preliminary results (can be also included if available but are not required)

The research proposal must contain sufficient detail to permit the advisory committee to provide detailed guidance in shaping the conceptualization and methodology of the plan. However, a fully formed research proposal is not required. Do not postpone this meeting for the sake of perfecting your plan. Students must present their research plan during the meeting. The committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic and research plan before students move forward with the research. Comments and changes suggested by the committee need to be addressed and presented in the following meetings. The research advisor will be non-voting member of the Committee and will not serve as an official reader but can and should participate in the discussion to offer clarification and suggestions to the TAC.

Meeting #2

Deadline: Fall Year 2

Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form (2)

Attendees: Student, Thesis Advisory Committee, Research Advisor (non-voting member)

Meeting preparation: Students must submit a written report to all members of the committee 7-10 days in advance of their scheduled meeting.

Meeting duration: Two hours Overview: At this meeting, students will update their Advisory Committee on research progress. They will provide an updated proposal describing the research topic, experimental plan, and preliminary results for evaluation and approval by the committee. Any changes or suggestions made by the Advisory Committee in Meeting 1 should be addressed either verbally or in the updated proposal.

The report should include:

Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form from previous meeting (available for download from Canvas)
Summary (1 page describing the comments and changes suggested by the committee at the previous meeting and how these were addressed)
Abstract
Background
Specific Aims
Methods
Preliminary or Final Results

The research advisor will be non-voting member of the Committee and will not serve as an official reader but can and should participate in the discussion to offer clarification and suggestions to the TAC.

Meeting #3

Deadline Fall Year 3

Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form (3)

Attendees: Student, Thesis Advisory Committee, Research Advisor (non-voting member)

Meeting Preparation: Students must submit a written report to all members of the committee 7-10 days in advance of their scheduled meeting. Meeting

Duration: Two hours

Overview: At this meeting, students must present the pen-ultimate version of their thesis for final comments and approval.

The report should include:

Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form from previous meeting (available for download from Canvas)
Summary (1 page describing the comments and changes suggested by the committee at the previous meeting and how these were addressed)
Abstract
Background
Specific aims
Methods
Results
Discussion

Oral medicine program TAC meeting schedules

MMSc Oral Medicine Program (4 years)

Meeting #1: Deadline Spring Year 2
Meeting #2: Deadline Fall Year 3
Meeting #3: Deadline Fall Year 4

The student should work closely with the advisor during the writing phase of the thesis. There are no page requirements or limitations. The thesis should follow the formal thesis format with the following guidelines:

Title Page:

A Thesis Presented by [Full Name, including Middle Name of Author with no Abbreviations] to

The Faculty of Medicine In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medical Sciences

Research Advisor: [Name], [Title], [Institutional affiliation]

Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston, Massachusetts [Month and Year of Submission]

Abstract: 500 words or less summarizing the project.

Introduction: This section should review the pertinent literature, (including preliminary data if possible), and outline the major purpose of the research. Reference should be made to previous relevant studies in order to explain what has been done as well as to explain the purpose of this research. This section should include a succinct articulation of the hypothesis tested. Please include the following subsections:

Significance
Background
Hypothesis

Approach: Describe clearly and carefully the procedures and materials used; a reader should be able to repeat your exact methodology. This section should include the overall research design and statistical methods.

Please include the following subsections:

Experimental Design
Statistical Analyses

Results: Report the results in a well-organized fashion with minimal subjective comment or reference to the literature. This section serves mainly to introduce tables and figures and to call attention to their significant parts.

Discussion and future direction: The data should be explained and interpreted with reference to the previous literature. The significance of the results may also be included. This is the section in which to emphasize subjective comment. In a thesis, the scope of the discussion extends beyond that of a journal article. For example, you may discuss why your first experiments failed, or how you arrived at the design for a particular protocol, or what you would do next if you were continuing the study.

References: References must be double-spaced and numbered consecutively as they are cited. References first cited in a table or figure legend should be numbered so that they will be in sequence with references cited in the text at the point where the table or figure is first mentioned.

Select thesis defense committee

Deadline March 1 of Graduation Year

Forms: Thesis Defense Committee Approval

Overview: When students have completed their research, the Thesis Defense Committee will be formed. The Defense Committee should be similar in composition to the Thesis Advisory Committee; however, the membership of the Defense Committee must be different from that of the Advisory Committee. There may be carry over from the Thesis Advisory Committee to the Thesis Defense Committee however there must be one new reader. In addition, the student’s Program Director and Research Advisor cannot serve as official members of the Defense Committee

Committee Requirements: The membership of the Thesis Defense Committee must be approved by your Program Director and the Director for Student Research before the thesis defense.

The MMSc Thesis Defense Committee is comprised of a minimum of two faculty members with the following requirements:

Well-acquainted with the area of research
Able to attend the Thesis Defense in person
Full-time HSDM faculty appointment
Only one committee member may have served on the Thesis Advisory Committee
At least one committee member must have an academic appointment of Assistant Professor or above
Are not the student’s Program Director or Research Advisor

Special approval, on a case-by-case basis, may be obtained for the following modifications to the Thesis Defense Committee member requirements. Please indicate on your Thesis Defense Committee Approval Form your justification for including faculty that fall outside of regular requirements. You may be asked to obtain CVs for individuals who are not affiliated with Harvard University.

Up to one committee member may a primary faculty appointment at an academic institution outside of HSDM.
Up to one committee member may have a part-time HSDM faculty appointment

Thesis defense

The thesis defense committee must be approved by the office of research prior to the thesis defense. Failure to obtain approval may result in a void defense that must be repeated with an approved committee.

Deadlines: Scheduled by March 1 of Graduation Year; Defense by April 15 of Graduation Year Forms: Thesis Defense Form
Attendees: Student, Thesis Defense Committee, Research Advisor (non-voting member)
Meeting preparation: Students must submit their thesis to all members of the committee 2 weeks in advance of their scheduled meeting.
Meeting duration: Two hours Meeting Overview: The thesis defense will begin with a presentation of the thesis.

The presentation should include the following sections:

Introduction (including Significance, Background, and Hypothesis)
Approach (including Experimental Design and Statistical Analyses)
Results
Discussion and Future Directions
Acknowledgements

The candidate will then defend their thesis. At the conclusion of the defense, the candidate will be excused from the room while the Committee votes on the acceptability of the thesis.

Requested changes: If the Thesis Defense Committee recommends specific changes in the written document, these changes must be incorporated into a revised version of the thesis, which is then circulated among Committee members for final approval.

Thesis submission

Deadline: The approved thesis must be submitted to the Harvard Countway Library by April 30th.

Instructions: Submissions are made to the Countway Library via ProQuest. When you upload your thesis, ProQuest will ask you if you want to register your copyright for $95; it is not recommended that you pay this fee as you already hold the copyright. Printing: If you would like a printed copy of your thesis, it can be ordered through the ProQuest system at the time of submission.

Printing: If you would like a printed copy of your thesis, it can be ordered through the ProQuest system at the time of submission.

Research hub

To simplify the research submission process, the Office of Research has created a system where AGE students will submit all their research requirements via a Canvas course named the “Research Hub”. The Research Hub also contains helpful research resources for you to access at any time. You can find the following (plus more!) on this Canvas site:

Links to Guidebooks
Research Requirement Overview Charts
Dates for Upcoming Research Events
Printing & Travel Reimbursement Instructions
Form Submission Instructions
Research Hub Instructions

The Research Hub is a vital tool for your success. Please review the Research Hub closely to understand how to submit research requirements and how to access the many resources.

Submission instructions

Research progress forms must be submitted by the deadline indicated in the Research Hub. Each student is assigned to a module on Canvas that corresponds to their specific program/graduation year. In this module, there are assignments for every remaining thesis requirement for the cohort. Students will submit all thesis forms/documents by accessing these assignments and uploading PDFs of their forms. Late submissions will result in monitored academic status (MAS) for one calendar year. Repeated occurrences of late research progress form submission may result in academic probation.

Instructions:

Open your Harvard University Canvas account.
Navigate to the HSDM AGE Research Hub course.
On the course homepage, navigate to your Program and Graduation Year cohort.
Click on your cohort module to review all assignments + deadlines.
Submit completed forms via these assignments.

Canvas invitations to the Research Hub have already been sent. If you have not received this invitation, contact hsdmresearch@hsdm.harvard.edu.

Obtaining electronic signatures

Digital signatures are accepted for all research progress forms (excluding the Thesis Defense Form). Access to this feature can be obtained by applying for Adobe Pro through your Harvard ID. Click this link to request access. Once you have access, you can share your documents with the necessary parties who can easily add signatures. Click this link for instructions on using this program.

Research hub

To simplify the research submission process, the Office of Research has created a system where AGE students will submit all their research forms via a Canvas course named the “Research Hub”. The Research Hub also contains helpful research resources for you to access at any time. You can find the following on this Canvas site:

Links to Guidebooks
Research Requirement Overview Charts
Dates for Upcoming Research Events
Printing & Travel Reimbursement Instructions
Form Submission Instructions
Research Hub Instructions

The Research Hub is a vital tool for your success. Please review the Research Hub closely to understand how to submit research requirements and how to access the many resources. Canvas invitations to the Research Hub have already been sent. If you have not received this invitation, contact hsdmresearch@hsdm.harvard.edu.

Academic, professional and scientific conduct

Preparation of papers and other work

All homework assignments, projects, lab reports, papers and examinations submitted for a course are expected to be the student's own work. Students should always take great care to distinguish their own ideas and knowledge from information derived from other sources. The term "sources" includes not only published or electronic primary and secondary material, but also information and opinions gained directly from other people. It is each student's responsibility to understand the expectations of academic integrity, proper forms of citation, and submission of one’s own work. In addition, collaboration in the completion of assignments is prohibited unless explicitly permitted by the instructor, in which case it must be acknowledged.

Authorship guidelines

Authorship is an explicit way of assigning responsibility and giving credit for intellectual work. Below are the authorship guidelines:

Everyone who is listed as an author should have made a substantial, direct, intellectual contribution to the work. For example (in the case of a research report) they should have contributed to the conception, design, analysis and/or interpretation of data. Honorary or guest authorship is not acceptable. Acquisition of funding and provision of technical services, patients, or materials, while they may be essential to the work, are not in themselves sufficient contributions to justify authorship.
Everyone who has made substantial intellectual contributions to the work should be an author.
Everyone who has made other substantial contributions should be acknowledged.
When research is done by teams whose members are highly specialized, individual's contributions and responsibility may be limited to specific aspects of the work.
All authors should participate in writing the manuscript by reviewing drafts and approving the final version.
One author should take primary responsibility for the work as a whole even if he or she does not have an in-depth understanding of every part of the work.

Research resources

Core research facilities

The Harvard Catalyst core facilities database is powered by the eagle-i network and is searchable by category, institution, or keyword https://cores.catalyst.harvard.edu. Please contact the Director of Core Labs at HSDM if you are interested in learning more about our facilities or have questions regarding facilities, equipment, or training. It is important to note that you must be trained to use equipment and access laboratories at HSDM.

Submitting a grant application

If you do plan on submitting a grant application, please work with the Office of Administration and Finance. They must be notified prior to the submission deadline. All grant applications must be approved through the Office of Administration and Finance as well as your Research Advisor prior to submission. This pertains to all funding (including but not limited to government awards, foundation awards, dental society awards) even if they do not require institutional approval. If you have any questions about this policy, please speak with the Associate Director of Grants Administration.

Poster printing

The Office of Research funds printing of one standard poster printed on paper, up to $100, per student per academic year. Students are responsible for any extra features such as fabric printing, expedited service, or shipping.

Instructions: https://www.phdposters.com/

Click on the orange “Start your order now” button.
Find the orange “Mail Order” button - click on the link below it in small purple print that says “Or use a PhD Posters group account”.
Complete the form with your contact information and the following login information: Account ID: HSDM Password: HSDMResearch
Pick up your order when ready at The Longwood Collective at 375 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Travel reimbursement for annual conferences

The Office of Research will reimburse up to $500 per student per fiscal year (July 1-June 30) in conference travel costs for research presentations. Reimbursable charges include accommodations, transportation, and conference registration fees. This reimbursement is awarded upon return of your attendance at any conference.

Requirements

To receive the reimbursement, you must be the sole presenter of your research at the conference. Only one reimbursement will be issued per project presentation.

Instructions:

Complete BEFORE conference:

Initiate reimbursement request by emailing the Office of Research at (HSDMResearch@hsdm.harvard.edu) with proof of your presentation and to obtain a copy of the Harvard University Nonemployee Reimbursement form.
Proof of presentation should be a copy/screenshoot of the conference's notification of abstract acceptance listing abstract title, presenter, and authors' names.
If not already in the system, the Office of Research will invite you to register in Harvard's financial processing platform, Buy-to-Pay. Registration instructions will be shared at the time of request.

Complete AFTER conference:

Fill out the reimbursement form to be entered into the Harvard University reimbursement system (Buy2Pay).
a. General Description: Enter a brief description of the expenses, particularly conference name, location, duration, presentation title, and any other pertinent details
b. Physically or electronically sign the form.
c. List expenses by category, making sure not to exceed $500.
Scan all corresponding receipts into a single .PDF file.
Email the reimbursement form and receipts to HSDMResearch@hsdm.harvard.edu
Office of Research will notify you when the reimbursement is submitted.

HSDM Research Advising Agreement

Use this form to confirm faculty advisor details, prior experience, and commitment to research project.

MMSc Thesis Advisory Committee Approval Form

Use this form to establish your MMSc Thesis Advisory Committee before the first meeting. Submit the approved form with signatures to the Canvas Research Hub.

MMSc Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form

Use this form to document each MMSc Thesis Advisory Committee meeting. Submit with committee signatures and proposal status to the Canvas Research Hub.

MMSc Thesis Defense Committee Approval Form

Use this form to establish your MMSc Thesis Defense Committee before the defense. Submit with required approvals and upload the completed form to the Canvas Research Hub.

MMSc Thesis Defense Form

This form confirms successful completion of the MMSc thesis defense. Defense Committee members sign to approve the final thesis for degree requirements at HSDM.

Nonemployee Reimbursement Form

This form should only be used for nonemployee reimbursements (honoraria, prizes, awards or other types of income cannot be included on this form).

DMSc program

The DMSc research guidebook serves as a vital resource for HSDM Doctor of Medical Sciences (DMSc) students. It outlines the research timelines, coursework, events, and thesis requirements essential for your academic success. Whether you're navigating qualifying examinations, selecting a mentor, or preparing your dissertation, this guide provides the structure and support you need to achieve excellence in your research and make impactful contributions to the field of oral health and medicine.

Guidebook updated 7/2025

Components of research requirements

Research coursework
- Fundamentals of Research (Course No. IDP 602)
- Attend (all years) and present (Y4) at AGE Seminar Series (Course No. IDP 600-900)
Research events
- Attend Faculty Research Day (Y1)
- Attend Office of Research Seminar Series (all years)
- Attend (all years) and present (Y4) at Student Research Day
Oral qualifying exam (coordinated by Registrar’s Office)
Complete a research thesis
- Select research advisor
- Design project
- Yearly progress survey
- Select thesis advisory committee
- Yearly thesis advisory committee meetings
- Conduct research and write thesis
- Select thesis defense committee
- Thesis defense
- Submit thesis electronically to Harvard Countway Library

Late/missing submissions will result in monitored academic status (MAS) for one calendar year. Repeated occurrences of late research progress form submission may result in academic probation.

Please refer to section “Submission Instructions” for instructions on form submission.

DMSc research timetable

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
Pass Fundamentals of Research—fall	Select thesis advisory committee—fall deadline	—	Meet with Thesis Advisory Committee (Meeting #3) fall deadline
Attend Faculty Research Day—fall	Meeting #1 with thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	Meet with Thesis Advisory Committee (Meeting #2) fall deadline	Select Thesis Defense Committee; March 1 deadline
Select research mentor and design project—fall deadline	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Present at AGE Seminar Series—spring
Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Present at Student Research Day—April
Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring			Defend thesis and submit to Harvard Countway Library—April 15 deadline

DMSc Oral Medicine Program research timetable

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
Pass Fundamentals of Research —fall	Select thesis advisory committee—fall deadline	—	—	Select thesis defense committee—March 1 deadline
Attend Faculty Research Day—fall	Meeting #1 with thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	Meeting #2 with thesis advisory committee—fall deadline	Meeting #3 with thesis advisory committee—fall deadline	Meeting #4 with thesis advisory committee—fall deadline
Select reseach mentor and design project—fall deadline	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Present at AGE Seminar Series—spring
Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Present at Student Research Day—April
Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	—	—	—	Defend thesis and submit to Harvard Countway Library—April 15 deadline

DMSc Oral Biology Program research timetable

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Pass Fundamentals of Research —fall	Select thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	Select thesis defense committee—March 1 deadline
Attend Faculty Research Day—fall	Meeting #1 with thesis advisory committee—spring deadline	Meeting #2 with thesis advisory committee—fall deadline
Select research mentor and design project—fall deadline	Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	Present at AGE Seminar Series—spring deadline
Attend Student Research Day—April	Attend Student Research Day—April	Present at Student Research Day—April
Attend AGE Seminar Series—spring	—	Defend thesis and submit to Harvard Countway Library—April 15 deadline

Faculty Research Day

Event Contact: Office of Research
Cadence: Faculty Research Day will be held each year at the beginning of September.
Evaluation: First-year DMSc students must attend Faculty Research Day. Attendance will be taken at the event.
Event Overview: Research faculty from HSDM, HMS, and hospital affiliates will present their ongoing research projects. Attending Faculty Research Day in year 1 is a great opportunity to learn about available projects and meet research faculty.

Office of Research Seminar Series

Event Contact: Office of Research
Cadence: The seminar series will be held in the REB auditorium two to three times a semester from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Look for announcements from the Office of Research for more information.
Evaluation: DMSc students in their research year must attend all seminar sessions (100%). DMSc in oral biology research students must attend all seminar sessions throughout their program (100%). All other AGE students must attend a minimum of 50% of the seminar sessions.
Event Overview: These monthly invited talks feature faculty from external institutions presenting their ongoing research. Speakers are experts in their fields, nominated by HSDM faculty.

HSDM Student Research Day

Event Contact: Office of Research
Cadence: Student Research Day will be held each year at the beginning of April.
Evaluation: Attendance for all students will be collected at the event.
Event Overview: This all-day event focuses on graduating DMD, MMSc, and DMSc students showcasing their research to faculty and fellow students.

Presenter Instructions:

Abstract Submission: Deadline is March 1 of the graduation year. Presenters must submit a 500-word maximum unstructured, single-spaced paragraph abstract for inclusion in the abstract booklet, along with written permission to present from their research advisor. Submissions will be made via Canvas.
Poster Presentation: All graduating students are required to present a poster. Further poster guidelines and templates will be shared via Canvas leading up to the event.
Poster Judging: The Office of Research awards “best poster” certificates for each student group. Posters are judged by HSDM faculty and postdoctoral research fellows based on:
- Student familiarity with the topic, oral presentation skills, and engagement with the project
- Significance and innovation of the project
- Strength of the methodological approach

The OQE is coordinated by the Registrar’s Office. While it is not overseen by the Office of Research, it is a crucial piece of your program requirements.

Following completion of the majority of the didactic requirements, approximately during the Spring semester of Year 2, DMSc candidates must satisfactorily complete an Oral Qualifying Examination. The examination committee members are selected by the student in consultation with their research advisor, the Office of Advanced Graduate Education, and the Program Director.

The Committee consists of at least three examiners: two with expertise in different areas of Oral Biology, and a third with expertise in the student's area of research specialization. Please note, 2 of the 3 Committee members must be Associate Professors or Professors at Harvard University, or a Harvard-affiliated institution (such as Brigham and Women’s Hospital). The research advisor and program director can be present for the exam but are not voting members of the Committee. The oral qualifying exam should be approximately 1-2 hours in length. The subject matter varies depending upon the candidate’s coursework and area of interest but should not be limited to the candidate’s area of research. Candidates may be asked to provide an overview of their thesis project as part of the exam and should be prepared to present this information if prompted. The membership of the Oral Qualifying Committee must be approved by the Program Director and the Director of Advanced Graduate Education before a meeting is convened. Committee members must be approved before an exam is scheduled.

Once the committee has been chosen and the exam scheduled, the Registrar must be notified in writing of the date, time, location, and names of the Committee members at least one week prior to the exam. Students who fail part or all of an oral qualifying exam must complete a make-up exam within 6 months of the original exam. Failure to do so will require that a student re-take the exam in its entirety with a new Oral Qualifying Exam Committee. The Registrar in the Office of Dental Education generates the Committee Approval form for the OQE.

Select research advisor

Deadline: Fall Year 1
Form: Research Advising Agreement Form
Overview: The importance of advisor and project selection should not be overlooked—they are crucial to the quality of your experience and the successful completion of your requirements. The research advisor will guide students in all aspects of developing the thesis topic, as well as with the preparation and presentation for thesis advisory committee meetings. Be sure to critically assess the research environment offered by the advisor.

Finding an advisor:
Attending the Faculty Research Day in year 1 is a great opportunity to learn about available projects and meet research faculty. The most comprehensive database of faculty research is on the Harvard Catalyst website. Please contact the Office of Research and/or the director for student research, Dr. Gori (francesca_gori@hsdm.harvard.edu), for assistance in identifying a advisor.

Design project

Deadline: Fall Year 1
Forms: None
Overview: It is essential that the specific aims of the project be clearly defined and feasible within the available timeframe. Students should expect to devote considerable time to this step.

Obtain ethics approval for study from IRB/IACUC:
HSDM students are subject to the same policies, guidelines, and regulations as the Faculty of Medicine. Therefore, student research projects must be reviewed by the Office of Research Subject Protection. The Committee on Human Studies has an Internal Review Board (IRB) that reviews all human subject-related research projects. The Standing Committee on Animals has an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) that reviews all animal subject-related research projects.

Please note that HSDM policy states students should not submit their own applications; student research must be approved with the research advisor listed as the principal investigator. Information on HMS/HSDM IRB and IACUC requirements and all relevant documents can be found on the HMS Office for Academic and Research Integrity. If you have questions about whether your research requires IRB review, contact ari@hms.harvard.edu.

Complete research training:
Students must obtain all appropriate HMS/HSDM institutional and site approvals (domestic or international) before starting research activities. Coordinate with your research advisor to complete all required trainings before beginning your study.

Review research hub

This is where you submit your paperwork and have cohort-specific deadline. Read "research hub" section below for more details.

Select thesis advisory committee

Deadline: Fall Year 2
Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Approval & Responsibility Forms
Overview: The thesis advisory committee (TAC) advises and counsels students on their projects. Establishing your committee and holding regular meetings with them is a critical part of your research progress. They will provide feedback and guidance to help shape your final project. Please note that the research advisor must attend all meetings. Although they are non-voting members of the committee and do not serve as an official reader, the research mentor should participate in the discussion.

Committee Requirements:
The membership of the thesis advisory committee must be approved by your program director and the director for student research before the first meeting is convened. The DMSc TAC must include at least three faculty members who meet the following requirements:

Committed to attending all meetings (once per year through graduation)
Well-acquainted with the area of research
Full-time HSDM faculty appointment
At least two committee members must have an academic appointment of assistant professor or above

Special approval, on a case-by-case basis, may be granted for the following modifications to the TAC member requirements. Please indicate your justification on the Thesis Advisory Committee Approval Form if including faculty who fall outside of regular requirements. You may be asked to provide CVs for individuals not affiliated with Harvard University. If a committee member is not located in the Boston area, please inform us of your plan to communicate and collaborate with that member.

Up to one committee member may have a primary faculty appointment at an academic institution outside of HSDM
Up to one committee member may have a part-time HSDM faculty appointment

Thesis advisory committee meetings

The thesis advisory committee must be approved by the Office of Research prior to any thesis meetings. Failure to obtain approval may result in void meetings that must be repeated with an approved committee.

Meeting #1 (previously referred to as the thesis approval meeting)

Deadline: Spring Year 2
Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form (1)
Attendees: Student, thesis advisory committee, research advisor (non-voting member of the committee)

Meeting Preparation:
Students must submit a written proposal to all committee members 7–10 days before their scheduled meeting.

Meeting Duration: Two hours

Overview:
At this meeting, students present their proposal for evaluation and approval by the TAC. The proposal should include:

Abstract
Background
Specific aims
Methods
Preliminary results (optional but can be included if available)

Research Proposal Guidelines
The research proposal must contain enough detail to allow the advisory committee to provide meaningful guidance on shaping the conceptualization and methodology of the plan. However, a fully developed research proposal is not required. Do not delay this meeting to perfect your plan. Students must present their research plan during the meeting.

The committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic and research plan before students can proceed with their research. Any comments and suggested changes from the committee must be addressed and presented in subsequent meetings.

The research mentor is a non-voting member of the committee and does not serve as an official reader but should actively participate in discussions to offer clarification and suggestions to the TAC.

Meeting #2

Deadline: Fall Year 3
Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form (2)
Attendees: Student, thesis advisory committee, research advisor (non-voting member)

Meeting Preparation:
Students must submit a written report to all committee members 7–10 days before the scheduled meeting.

Meeting Duration: Two hours

Overview:
In this meeting, students will update their advisory committee on research progress. They will provide an updated proposal that includes the research topic, experimental plan, and preliminary results for evaluation and approval by the committee. Any changes or suggestions made in Meeting 1 must be addressed either verbally or in the updated proposal.

The report should include:

Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form from the previous meeting (available for download from Canvas)
Summary (1-page description of the committee’s comments and suggestions from the previous meeting and how they were addressed)
Abstract
Background
Specific aims
Methods
Preliminary or final results

The research mentor remains a non-voting member of the committee and does not serve as an official reader but should participate in discussions to provide clarification and suggestions to the TAC.

Meeting #3

Deadline: Fall Year 4
Forms: Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form (3)
Attendees: Student, advisory committee, research advisor (non-voting member)

Meeting Preparation:
Students must submit a written report to all committee members 7–10 days before the scheduled meeting.

Meeting Duration: Two hours

Overview:
In this meeting, students must present the penultimate version of their thesis for final comments and approval.

The report should include:

Thesis Advisory Committee Meeting Form from the previous meeting (available for download from Canvas)
Summary (1-page description of the committee’s comments and suggestions from the previous meeting and how they were addressed)
Abstract
Background
Specific aims
Methods
Results
Discussion

The research mentor is a non-voting member of the committee and does not serve as an official reader but should contribute to discussions by offering clarification and suggestions to the TAC.

Oral Medicine and Oral Biology Research TAC Meeting Schedules

DMSc in Oral Medicine (5 years)

Meeting #1: Standard guidelines
Meeting #2: Standard guidelines
Meeting #3: Follow the instructions detailed above for Meeting #2; deadline fall year 4
Meeting #4: Follow the instructions detailed above for Meeting #3; deadline fall year 5

DMSc in Oral Biology Research (3 years)

Meeting #1: Standard guidelines
Meeting #2: Follow the instructions detailed above for Meeting #3; deadline fall year 3

Title Page:

A Thesis Presented by
[Full Name, including Middle Name of Author with no Abbreviations] to
The Faculty of Medicine
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Medical Sciences

Research Mentor: [Name], [Title], [Institutional affiliation]

Harvard School of Dental Medicine Boston, Massachusetts
[Month and Year of Submission]

Abstract: 500 words or less summarizing the project.

Significance
Background
Hypothesis

Experimental Design
Statistical Analyses

Select thesis defense committee

Deadline March of graduation year
Forms: Thesis Defense Committee Approval
Overview: When students have completed their research, the Thesis Defense Committee will be formed. The Defense Committee should be similar in composition to the Thesis Advisory Committee; however, the membership of the Defense Committee must be different from that of the Advisory Committee. There may be carry over from the Thesis Advisory Committee to the Thesis Defense Committee however there must be two new readers. In addition, the student’s Program Director and Research Advisor cannot serve as official members of the Defense Committee.

Committee requirements: The membership of the Thesis Defense Committee must be approved by your program director and the director for student research before the thesis defense.

The DMSc Thesis Defense Committee is comprised of a minimum of three faculty members with the following requirements:

Well-acquainted with the area of research
Able to attend the Thesis Defense in person
Full-time HSDM faculty appointment
Only one committee member may have served on the Thesis Advisory Committee
At least two committee members must have an academic appointment of Assistant Professor or above
Are not the student’s Program Director or Research Advisor

Up to one committee member may a primary faculty appointment at an academic institution outside of HSDM.
Up to one committee member may have a part-time HSDM faculty appointment

Thesis defense

The thesis defense committee must be approved by the Office of Research prior to the thesis defense. Failure to obtain approval may result in a void defense that must be repeated with an approved committee.

Deadlines: Scheduled by March 1 of graduation year; defense by April 15 of graduation year
Forms: Thesis Defense Form
Attendees: Student, Thesis Defense Committee, research advisor (non-voting member)
Meeting preparation: Students must submit their thesis to all members of the committee 2 weeks in advance of their scheduled meeting. Meeting Duration: Two hours Meeting coordination: The DMSc Thesis Defense will begin with a public presentation of the thesis, coordinated by the Office of Research. The Office will book a room, provide any requested virtual meeting capabilities for guests, advertise your Defense to the HSDM community, and order catering for light refreshments. Be prepared to provide your Defense date, thesis title, and headshot.
Meeting overview: The thesis defense will begin with a public presentation of the thesis.

The public presentation should include the following sections:

Introduction (including significance, background, and hypothesis)
Approach (including experimental design and statistical analyses)
Results
Discussion and future directions
Acknowledgements

The Defense Committee will request that guests adjourn while the candidate defends their thesis. At the conclusion of the defense, the candidate will be excused from the room while the Committee votes on the acceptability of the thesis.

Passing with honors

This title indicates that the thesis dissertation is of exceptional caliber and that the work presented would meet standards for submission to a peer reviewed journal. Honors implies far more than just discussing the thesis research; it should include demonstrating broad knowledge and insight in the student field of research. The “Pass with Honors in Research” will only be awarded to the top ten percent of dissertations.

Criteria to “pass with honors”:

The work presented in the thesis should reflect the commitment and contribution of the student to the design, execution and analysis of the data generated
The quality of the work presented in the thesis should be significant

The studies performed should make an original contribution by advancing knowledge in the specific field of study

The student should display a mastery of the research methods used and their applications
The student should show a thorough familiarity with the field and an ability to critically analyze the relevant literature

Instructions: The Thesis Defense Committee will determine if a student will Pass with Honors in Research. The Committee Chair should then inform Office of Research and Registrar.

Thesis submission

Deadline: The approved thesis must be submitted to the Harvard Countway Library by April 30th.
Instructions: Submissions are made to the Countway Library via ProQuest. When you upload your thesis, ProQuest will ask you if you want to register your copyright for $95; it is not recommended that you pay this fee as you already hold the copyright.
Printing: If you would like a printed copy of your thesis, it can be ordered through the ProQuest system at the time of submission.

Research hub

Links to Guidebooks
Research Requirement Overview Charts
Dates for Upcoming Research Events
Printing & Travel Reimbursement Instructions
Form Submission Instructions
Research Hub Instructions

The Research Hub is a vital tool for your success. Please review the Research Hub closely to understand how to submit research requirements and how to access the many resources.

Submission instructions

Instructions:

Open your Harvard University Canvas account.
Navigate to the HSDM AGE Research Hub course.
On the course homepage, navigate to your Program and Graduation Year cohort.
Click on your cohort module to review all assignments + deadlines.
Submit completed forms via these assignments.

Canvas invitations to the Research Hub have already been sent. If you have not received this invitation, contact hsdmresearch@hsdm.harvard.edu.

Obtaining electronic signatures

Digital signatures are accepted for all research progress forms (excluding the Thesis Defense Form). Access to this feature can be obtained by applying for Adobe Pro through your Harvard ID. Click this link to request access. Once you have access, you can share your documents with the necessary parties who can easily add signatures. Click this link for instructions on using this program.

Academic, professional, and scientific conduct

Preparation of papers and other works

Authorship guidelines

Authorship is an explicit way of assigning responsibility and giving credit for intellectual work. Below are the authorship guidelines:

Everyone who is listed as an author should have made a substantial, direct, intellectual contribution to the work. For example (in the case of a research report) they should have contributed to the conception, design, analysis and/or interpretation of data. Honorary or guest authorship is not acceptable. Acquisition of funding and provision of technical services, patients, or materials, while they may be essential to the work, are not in themselves sufficient contributions to justify authorship.
Everyone who has made substantial intellectual contributions to the work should be an author. Everyone who has made other substantial contributions should be acknowledged.
When research is done by teams whose members are highly specialized, individual's contributions and responsibility may be limited to specific aspects of the work. • All authors should participate in writing the manuscript by reviewing drafts and approving the final version.
One author should take primary responsibility for the work as a whole even if he or she does not have an in-depth understanding of every part of the work.

Research resources

Core research facilities

Submitting a grant application

Poster printing

Instructions: https://www.phdposters.com/

Click on the orange “Start your order now” button.
Find the orange “Mail Order” button - click on the link below it in small purple print that says “Or use a PhD Posters group account”.
Complete the form with your contact information and the following login information: Account ID: HSDM Password: HSDMResearch
Pick up your order when ready at The Longwood Collective at 375 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Travel reimbursement for annual conferences

Requirements

To receive the reimbursement, you must be the sole presenter of your research at the conference. Only one reimbursement will be issued per project presentation.

Instructions 

Complete BEFORE conference:

Initiate reimbursement request by emailing the Office of Research (HSDMResearch@hsdm.harvard.edu) with proof of your presentation and to obtain a copy of the Harvard University Nonemployee Reimbursement Form.
Proof of presentation should be a copy/screenshot of the conference’s notification of abstract acceptance listing abstract title, presenter, and authors’ names
If not already in the system, the Office of Research will invite you to register in Harvard’s financial processing platform, Buy-to-Pay. Registration instructions will be shared at the time of request

Complete AFTER conference:

Fill out the reimbursee Information section on the Nonemployee Reimbursement Form.
General Description: Enter a brief description of the expenses, particularly conference name, location, duration, presentation title, and any other pertinent details. 
Physically or electronically sign the form.
List expenses by category, making sure not to exceed $500, even if your receipts are more than that.
Scan all corresponding receipts into a single .PDF file.
Email Nonemployee Reimbursement Form and receipts to HSDMResearch@hsdm.harvard.edu 
Office of Research will notify you when the reimbursement is submitted.

HSDM Research Advising Agreement

Use this form to confirm faculty advisor details, prior experience, and commitment to research project.

DMSc Thesis Advisory Committee Approval Form

This form is used to establish your Thesis Advisory Committee before the first meeting. The approved committee guides your research and helps prevent project drift. Submit the signed form to the Office of Research and upload it to the Canvas Research Hub

Student Research Resources