About the PCSTP
Pittsburgh Craniofacial Sciences Training Program (PCSTP) was established in 2022 with a goal to train and mentor a new generation of leading scientists in Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial sciences. The program is designed to support predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees. The PCSTP provides a highly collaborative, vibrant multidisciplinary environment, where trainees from different backgrounds, i.e., oral and craniofacial sciences, bioengineering, immunology and human genetics, work side by side to develop therapies.
The PCSTP is administered and managed by the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (OCS) with faculty mentors from OCS and other Pitt Dental or University departments. The PCSTP provides courses, research experiences, seminar series, journal clubs, an annual symposium, and an annual retreat. Our trainees have full access to all University resources, such as training in artificial intelligence, the responsible conduct of research, grant writing and many other opportunities. Our trainees benefit from a wealth of seminars, conferences, intramural funding opportunities, and specialized training and experiences available through hundreds of laboratories and clinics across the six schools of the health sciences, Swanson School of Engineering and the Pitt Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI).
Application Process
Applications must be submitted by March 31st each year to be considered for a September 1st. start date.
Application packets may be submitted to the PCSTP Administrator, Ms. Deb Haralam at dmh97@pitt.edu.
Eligibility for Predoc positions
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Eligibility for Postdoc positions
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The T90/R90 grant covers NRSA allowable tuition, stipend, health and dental benefits, as well as support for trainees to travel to various research events.
Application Procedure:
The mentor and the nominated PhD Trainee should work together to provide the following items:
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PCSTP Application Cover Page
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academic record (unofficial transcript(s) from most recent institution) of the nominee
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the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV)
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description of the nominee's research, with the specific aims relevance to oral health
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description of career goals and how participation in PCSTP will advance these goals
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past funding information (UPitt history and any previous grant appointments)
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Three confidential letters of recommendation are required and may be submitted by the mentor to Ms. Deb Haralam.
Applications for admission to the program are considered on a rolling basis. The PCSTP Operating Committee meets quarterly to complete the trainee selection. If you have questions, please contact Deb Haralam.
Training Grant mentors
Name |
Research Area |
School/Department |
Temporomandibular Joint / Pain. Understanding mechanisms of temporomandibular joint pain and osteoarthritis, using genetic rodent models. Development of novel biomaterials for joint tissue regeneration. |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Mineralized Tissues/Biomaterials. Formation, structure and function of mineralized tissues; bioinspired nanomaterials. |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Craniofacial Genetics/Phenomics of oral health and disease, in connection with systemic health, particularly with cancers and cardiovascular diseases.
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Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Tissue engineering Temporomandibular joint; Host response to biomaterials |
Pitt Engineering/ Biomedical Engineering |
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Understanding the immune response in periodontal disease and bone regeneration. |
Pitt Dental / Periodontics |
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Host defense against infectious disease and autoimmunity. A subset of CD4+ T cells, known as "Th17 cells" based on production of the cytokine IL-17, plays a key role in driving autoimmunity. |
Pitt Med / Immunology |
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Pain, Neurobiology of nociceptive afferents and their role in peripheral mechanisms of pain. |
Pitt Med / Neurobiology |
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Developmental Biology/Craniofacial Genetics. Understanding the relationships between genotype and phenotype in facial development. |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Human Genetics. Genetic epidemiology of Alzheimer's, Down syndrome, and dental and craniofacial traits |
Pitt Public Health / Human Genetics |
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Tissue Engineering / Stem Cells/Cancer/Periodontal regeneration. Skeletal and cancer stem cells.
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Pitt Dental / Periodontics |
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Craniofacial Genetics. Genetic basis of craniofacial and oral traits/conditions. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying complex craniofacial and oral conditions. |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Drug Delivery/Tissue Regeneration Periodontal disease, Immunomodulation, Inflammation, Translational Research |
Pitt Engineering / Chemical Engineering |
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Craniofacial Genetics. Effects of genetic variations on complex traits and disease |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Craniofacial Genetics. Genomics, etiology, and multi-omic studies of craniofacial birth defects and of oral health and disease in children and families |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Biology of Mineralized Tissues - Molecular regulation of the biomineralization process; molecular mechanisms and animal models of mineralized tissues diseases |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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A. I. Meets Biology development of data-science techniques, AI-driven tools, and statistical inference methods to understand large-scale molecular dynamics. |
Pitt Public Health/Human Genetics |
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Statistics and Bioinformatics in Human Genetics. Genetic contributors to common complex human diseases, including craniofacial birth defects and oral health and disease. |
Pitt Public Health/Human Genetics |
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Tissue Regeneration/Mineralized tissues. Periodontal disease, Immunomodulation, Inflammation. Translational Research |
Pitt Dental / Periodontics |
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Scaffoldless Tissue Engineering / Stem Cells, nerve regeneration |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Tissue Engineering of temporomandibular joint and dental pulp. Cell mechanobiology Translational Research |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
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Statistical genetics, both methodological and applied, aimed at exploring the genetics and epigenetics of complex human disease. |
Pitt Med / Human Genetics |
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Craniofacial Genetics/Morphometry - Genetic epidemiology or craniofacial features and malformations; Morphometric studies of craniofacial morphology and variation |
Pitt Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Sciences |
PI and Co‐Director, Pittsburgh Craniofacial Sciences Training Program School of Dental Medicine
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Co‐Director, Pittsburgh Craniofacial Science Sciences Training Program School of Dental Medicine |
The Grant covers NRSA allowable tuition, Stipend, Health and Dental Benefits, and travel to support trainee research.
Please submit your application packet to Deb Haralam.