The oral biology doctoral program is an interdisciplinary program consisting of twenty-nine faculty from three health sciences colleges (dentistry, medicine, and veterinary medicine) and the Comprehensive Cancer Center. The major focus of the program is laboratory-based education in conducting research. Students of the program learn to develop a hypothesis, design logically consistent research protocol, collect and analyze scientific data, and explain scientific findings. Students are educated to understand current and classic scientific facts and principles that, in the broadest sense, relate to the dental and craniofacial region. The program also teaches students how to choose and study significant scientific problems using modern scientific approaches.<br><br>Faculty study microbial communities in the mouth and other mucosal surfaces, using techniques ranging from traditional microbial culturing to state of the art next generation sequencing. Research interests include the contribution of microbial communities to the development of diseases, like carries and periodontitis, as well as to basic physiological processes in the body such as immune system activity. Researchers in this group regularly interact with other basic scientists and clinicians through participation in the Center for Microbial Interface Biology, Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, and Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University as well as the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis at Nationwide Children's Hospital.