Sources of Funding
This section covers the resources used by Ostrow School of Dentistry students and how to qualify for them.
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The majority of graduate and professional students borrow from a variety of loan programs to fund their education. However, you should consider your indebtedness from other academic programs when determining how much to borrow for your program at USC.
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We encourage you to explore the more than $2 million in scholarships offered by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. You can find scholarship information and the application on the USC Scholarship Universe portal.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive or renew scholarships at Herman Ostrow, you must:
- Act in a manner consistent with the ethical and professional behaviors expected of students of the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. If the Student Professional Performance Evaluation Committee (SPPEC) finds any student guilty of an ethical or professional violation of the School’s Code of Ethics and Behavioral Guidelines, or if a student pleads guilty to an allegation, that student is automatically ineligible for any award in subsequent scholarship cycles. To be considered for any future awards during the next available cycle, the student must submit an appropriate scholarship application for consideration by the Scholarship Committee.
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Submit an Ostrow scholarship application each year.
Recipients who do not meet the renewal requirements may apply in the subsequent year and enter the general pool to be considered for other Ostrow endowed scholarship opportunities.
Documentation
When applying for scholarships, you will need to provide the following:
- A copy of your undergraduate and dental school transcripts.
- A list of your community outreach activities.
Note: USC conducts a holistic review of each applicant’s materials, focusing in particular on academic standing, community outreach involvement, research and leadership.
Application Timeline
- August: Applications open.
- September: Recipients of renewable scholarships receive their funds if they remain in good academic standing and have no ethical violations.
- December: New recipients are selected and notified by email.
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National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Ostrow a training grant (T90/R90) with a primary objective of providing PhD candidates and postdoctoral trainees with a broadened, interdisciplinary research experience in a research-intensive university setting. At any one time, the training grant will support four (4) PhD students and five (5) postdoctoral trainees.
We recommend that you consider Ostrow’s Craniofacial Biology program if you are exceptionally motivated and wish to pursue research that addresses oral health problems, or if you aspire to a long-term career in academic or clinical dentistry where you can pursue teaching, research and service at one of the nation’s finest dental schools.
We are looking for promising investigators who seek research and training opportunities in craniofacial and oral biology, biomineralization, cell biology, clinical trials/experimentation, developmental biology, cytokine biology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, neuroscience, immunology, microbial molecular genetics and periodontology.
The T90/R90 training grant prepares recipients to become next-generation leaders and cutting-edge academic dental researchers who are prepared to generate new discoveries that identify, prevent, treat and cure diseases and abnormalities of the oral and craniofacial complex. The goal of this program is to help meet the growing need for research scholars in U.S. dental schools and to produce competent, independent scientists who are able to initiate and maintain funded research programs that will improve world health.
Training Opportunities
PhD training and the non-degree postdoctoral fellowship focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on scientists who seek advanced training in all aspects of oral biology and oral pathology.
With an emphasis on translational laboratory investigations and independent research, students will thrive in an integrated curriculum that includes mentoring, scientific advancement, academic career development, publication and grantsmanship. We provide training that is tailored to each candidate, while maintaining a focus on skeletal, craniofacial and oral biology through symposiums, seminars, courses, clinical research centers and collaborative research.
Students have the opportunity to work with one or more of 40 USC faculty mentors from Ostrow, Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Stipends and Awards
PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows are supported through one to two years of training by a full stipend, tuition award, health insurance and other benefits. Postdoctoral scholars are generally supported by the research funds of individual faculty members, in addition to the NIH T90/R90 training grant. Accepted students are also eligible to receive support for supplies and travel to research-related seminars.
Career Planning: Mentoring Future Leaders
Most postdoctoral trainees should be able to look forward to their first faculty appointment or position during or soon after completing the supported training fellowship. Mentors are committed to helping students attain the skills necessary to successfully transition from scholar to independent investigator working in an academic or corporate environment. Faculty fully recognize the importance of imparting their scientific knowledge to prepare bright, motivated students for a future in translational biomedical sciences related to craniofacial development, oral health, disease and treatments.
Research
The program is based at the state-of-the-art Center for Craniofacial and Molecular Biology, although scholars can conduct their research in a wide variety of laboratories at any of USC’s campuses or at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which encompasses many disciplines. Research areas include but are not limited to:
- Embryonic stem cell research
- Tissue engineering
- Neuroscience and physiology
- Genetics and gene regulation
- Extracellular matrix
- Biomaterials
- Oral, microbial and mucosal disease
- Cancer and molecular medicine
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Pay close attention to deadlines. We recommend that you submit all forms and supporting documents two (2) weeks before the deadline and respond to any additional requests from USC within 10 days.
You can track your status through your Financial Aid Summary and Tasks (FAST) portal.
Loan Application Alert: To have your loan funds deposited to your student account, you must complete some additional steps no later than 30 days before the start of your first semester. For more information, refer to the loan types below:
