The education and training of doctoral students is one of the most important aspects of a university's activities. The pursuit of knowledge through research higher degree programs not only leads to a well-educated society and a highly trained professional work force, but also contributes significantly to the University's research and scholarship. The aim of the PhD program is to provide research training in a manner that fosters the development of independent research skills in candidates. These skills include the capacity to formulate a significant problem, to develop mastery of appropriate conceptual and methodological skills, and to relate the research topic to a broader framework of knowledge in the relevant disciplinary area. The doctoral thesis provides evidence of a contribution to knowledge with a level of originality consistent with 3-4 years of full-time study and research training. It also demonstrates a candidate's capacity for critical analysis and that he or she is capable of pursuing scholarly and programmatic research. Research Themes Advanced Materials and Technologies The Advanced Materials and Technologies research stream works across the interface between oral microbiology, cardiology, dental materials science and advanced technologies to explore key topics of importance with an emphasis on the transition of research into clinical practice. Research leaders within this stream have active collaborations within UQ (Chemical Engineering, Physics, TRI, AIBN, IMB) and collaborate with multiple Australian and overseas universities on projects of common interest. The research stream acts as a node of the CRC in Oral Health, undertaking research with industry partners, as well as commercially funded research. Regenerative Dentistry The Regenerative Dentistry research stream conducts a wide range of translational research in tissue engineering, stem cells and molecular biology aiming to replace, engineer or regenerate damaged tissues or organs, restoring normal functionality. Biomedical approaches to tissue regeneration predominately involve the use of dental stem cells, controlled released nano-delivery systems for growth factors, electro spinning, 3D bio-printing and gene editing and reprogramming. The research leaders within this stream collaborate extensively with national and international research partners on projects focused on the regeneration of bone, nerve, dental pulp and periodontal tissue. Dental Public Health The Dental Public Health research stream broadly conducts research to understand the epidemiology of health and oral ill-health; and improve and enhance the oral health of communities at a population level.