Student Advocate of the Year Award
Student Advocate of the Year Award recognizes students’ advocacy for dental, oral, and craniofacial research, honoring policymaker outreach and peer engagement to advance oral health research priorities.
Funder: American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research
Due Dates: September 15, 2026 (Applications open) | March 31, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Non-monetary award presented at AADOCR Advocacy Day
Summary: Recognizes a student’s outstanding advocacy contributions on behalf of dental, oral, and craniofacial research.
Key Information: Nominees must be current NSRG members; the Gert Quigley Fellow and NSRG officers are ineligible.
Description
The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) Student Advocate of the Year Award recognizes outstanding student contributions to advocacy for oral health research. AADOCR’s National Student Research Group (NSRG) and Government Affairs Committee administer the annual award. It is an honor for advocacy engagement, rather than funding for a research project.
The award highlights student involvement in communicating with policymakers, responding to advocacy action alerts, participating in AADOCR Advocacy Day, and engaging other students in oral health advocacy. Applicants explain why advocacy for dental, oral, and craniofacial research matters and describe their role or interest in advancing AADOCR’s federal policy agenda. The winner is announced at the annual AADOCR and Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in the spring.
