Trailblazers in Oral Health Research (TORCH) Fellowship Award
$70,000 Research Fellowship Award
*Applications open October 6, 2025 and closes at 11:59 P.M. EST on March 15, 2026
The National Dental Association Foundation (NDAF) and the Colgate-Palmolive Company (Colgate) established the Trailblazers in Oral Health Research (TORCH) Fellowship Award to recognize and support outstanding postdoctoral biomedical and dental clinician-scientists from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the health sciences who demonstrate exceptional promise in advancing oral health research and promoting oral health equity.
This prestigious award reflects the shared commitment of NDAF and Colgate to advancing oral health research and underscores the importance of representation, and innovation in addressing persistent gaps in care and knowledge
The TORCH Fellowship provides recipients with mentorship, professional development, and meaningful industry exposure. The award carries a value of $70,000, which may be applied toward stipend or salary support, research supplies, publications, and up to $5,000 for travel to required research events and presentations. No portion of the award may be used for institutional indirect costs or administrative overhead. No-cost extensions are not permitted. Written acceptance of these terms is required; if the sponsoring institution cannot agree to the conditions, the award will be withdrawn and offered to another applicant.
Through a highly competitive application process, the TORCH Award recognizes exceptional emerging scientists whose lived experiences and perspectives enrich the research enterprise and advance the pursuit of oral health equity. Recipients are:
- Honored at the National Dental Association Annual Convention
- Featured at the Colgate Research Innovation Day at the Colgate Technology Center
- Invited to present at the NDA Minority Faculty and Administrators Luncheon
Applications are open and will close midnight March 15, 2026.
Malika Malik
“I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 TORCH Fellowship Award, which supports my commitment to advancing oral health research in communities of color. I am grateful to Colgate and the National Dental Association Foundation for their dedication to fostering diversity and providing invaluable mentorship and professional growth opportunities.”
Eligibility Requirements
- Citizenship/Residency
- Must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status.
- Educational Background
- Must have completed a PhD or DDS/DMD program (documentation required).
- Must be currently engaged in advanced training or research beyond the doctoral degree, such as:
- A post-doctoral fellowship or research appointment at a university or research institute, or
- A dental residency in an accredited specialty program (e.g., orthodontics, periodontics, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery).
- Research Commitment
- Must demonstrate potential for independent research.
- Must commit to one year of oral health-related research.
- Have an identified research mentor
- Research Focus
- Proposed or ongoing research must address at least one of the following priority areas:
- Dental caries
- Tooth whitening
- Gingival health
- Dentin hypersensitivity
- Projects outside these focus areas will not be considered for funding.
- Proposed or ongoing research must address at least one of the following priority areas:
- Professional Engagement
- Must be able to present research at the following events:
- Colgate Research Innovation Day – In-person presentation at the Colgate Technology Center (Friday, April 24, 2026).
- Colgate Senior Scientific Leadership Meeting – Project Results –Virtual presentation (June 2027).
- NDA/NDAF Minority Faculty Forum, NDA Annual Convention – In-person presentation (July 2027)
- Must be able to present research at the following events:
- Reporting & Dissemination
- Must provide an Interim Progress Report within 6 months from effective date of award to include updated milestone timeline, percentage of budget expended to date, and a brief discussion of challenges or protocol modifications with justification.
- Must prepare a manuscript for submission to a leading peer-reviewed journal and provide a draft to the NDAF–Colgate TORCH Committee for review within 45-days of project completion
- Must compile and submit a comprehensive final report within sixty (60) days of project completion, including scientific results, status of manuscript submission(s), a final financial report, and future career plans.
- Acknowledgment Requirements
- Publications must state: “This research project has been made possible through a grant from Colgate-Palmolive Company.”
- Within 30 days of notification, recipients must submit:
- A quotation expressing appreciation for the award.
- A 30-second video message acknowledging the scholarship.
- Consent for NDAF to use submitted content on its website and publications.
Key Components of Fellowship Application
The following categories are required components of the application:
- Professional Documentation (Curriculum Vitae and professional photo)
- Personal Statement
- Research Proposal
- Letters of Recommendation
- Verification of Training Status
- Institutional Documentation (Letter from sponsoring institution confirming adherence to award conditions)
- Media Release (Completed Photo and Video Release Form)
Applicants must submit all required documents as part of the application process.