Research Supervisor

You should make every effort to find a supervisor with similar areas of interests and research goals before submitting your completed application. The student-supervisor relationship will be a key ingredient in your success for the duration of your Master’s studies.

Identifying Potential Supervisors

  • Browse through the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences' researchers page to learn about Faculty members' research interests, publications, and current projects.
  • Take a look at the Faculty’s research clusters.
  • McGill’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Support website has a wealth of knowledge to help you choose the right supervisor.
  • The following researchers are actively recruiting MSc students: Paul Allison, Pascaline Kengne Talla, Ji Zhang, Marc McKee, Sabrina Wurzba, Natalie Reznikov, Marc O. Martel (Fall only), Belinda Nicolau (Fall only), Simon Tran, and Thomas Nguyen. (Other researchers may also be accepting students.)
  • If you are unsure of which supervisor you would like to work with, please contact the gradofficer.dentistry [at] mcgill.ca (Graduate Studies Officer). The Graduate Studies Officer will be able to make suggestions about which researchers’ interests best align with yours.

Make a connection

When you are ready to contact potential supervisors, approaching them by email is a good initial step. Ensure that your message is tailored to a specific professor, not generic. You must catch the interest of the professor quickly and make a good first impression.

  • Write a concise and professional letter. The message should start with Dear Professor/Dr. (last name) and end with "Yours sincerely" (or the equivalent in French). Be sure to include your full name and contact information.
  • State why you are writing (e.g., I am applying to the MSc in Dental Sciences program).
  • State why you are interested in graduate studies (including career goals) and emphasize any research or leadership experience you may have and your analytical skills.
  • If you already have funding, state the amount, duration, and source.
  • State why you are approaching this particular professor and why your research interests and goals are a good match. Refer briefly to specific published articles by the professor that interest you.
  • Offer an opportunity for further discussion (teleconference, videoconference, or if you are in Montreal, an in-person interview).
  • Attach your Curriculum Vitae and unofficial transcripts. You may also complete and submit the Canadian Common CV.

Note: If you have not been able to identify a supervisor, please submit your completed application as soon possible after the application cycle opens (see Apply Now for more information). Please include the name or names of supervisors you would like to work with. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Supervisors are able to review complete, submitted applications and may contact students with similar research interests. Please note that students must have a supervisor before the application deadline to be accepted into the program. Applicants who have not found a supervisor by the application deadline will not be considered.

 

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