The transition to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the School of Dentistry was challenging for Edwin Rojas, but not necessarily because of academics. After all, Rojas has been interested in both the dental field and scientific research since high school. So when he arrived at UAB in 2017, he was prepared for the work that would be needed in the DMD/Ph.D. program.
Instead, the challenging part for Rojas was becoming accustomed to his new surroundings and the lack of snow. A native of Queens, N.Y., Rojas had spent his entire life in the Northeast, including four years at Western Connecticut State University, where he received a degree in chemistry.
Rojas decided to leave his roots – and his string quartet, orchestra, and NY pizza – behind and branch out to Birmingham in order to take part in the DMD/Ph.D. program, which was the only such dual program that allowed him the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry. His DMD/PhD training has been supported by UAB’s DART training grant (2018-2021) and F30 Fellowship (2021-2025), both funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
In coming to Birmingham, he was moving a thousand miles away from his family – including 26 cousins – and numerous longtime friends.
“I’m very close to my family, and moving away from them and all the people I grew up with was hard to do,” Rojas says. “I didn’t know anyone (in Alabama). But I was looking for a university that could align chemistry with dentistry. I was particularly interested in expanding my toolbox and expertise to develop therapeutics that would aid in the prevention of oral health diseases, and UAB gave me that opportunity.”
“I was pretty homesick at first. But the people here are very friendly and welcoming, and over the years this began to feel more like home to me.”
Rojas says that being a UAB DMD/PhD trainee has enabled him to travel to conferences to present his findings and network with other clinician-scientists.
“I am thankful for the friendship, support, and memories I’ve shared with many of my peers from the Chemistry Graduate Program while I was completing my PhD, which includes my labmates in the Velu Group.”
The program has also afforded him leadership opportunities.
“Being president of both the school’s Local Student Research Group and the university’s Chemistry Graduate Committee have helped me develop as a leader and work with others to bolster the research engagement and culture at UAB.”
“Leading various organizations has also sparked the idea for entrepreneurship in the future. I currently have an executive board of 25 members in the Student Research Group, which is operating based on a company model. Being a leader has been a humbling experience which has taught me how to serve, listen, collaborate, brainstorm, delegate, empower others, foster a positive culture, and practice conflict resolution,” he says.
An avid musician, traveler, coffee enthusiast, and chocolate connoisseur, he has enjoyed plenty of extracurricular experiences on the side. He played for the UAB Men’s Club Volleyball Team and has participated in various sports, including table tennis, soccer, and pickleball.
Rojas, now entering the clinical phase of his dental education, will soon depart his Birmingham home as he prepares to graduate from the SOD in 2026.
“The curriculum and the staff at the dental school have really prepared me for being a professional,” Rojas says. “The faculty are simply amazing. They love to engage with students. They’re always willing to help, so you can grow and be the best dental professional possible when you leave, and feel confident with the skills you’ve learned."
“I also love how they have a mentor / mentee support system here where every dental student is paired with someone a year below you and a year above you. That way, you’re always helping each other out and passing along knowledge.”
Rojas says he remains undecided about his precise plans for the future because of how many options there are as a clinician-scientist. While he enjoys the actual practice of dentistry, he says he also relishes research, leadership, and teaching.
“I really like chemical research, sharing ideas, and diving into science that can make an impact on society,” Rojas says. “But I also like dentistry. I like interacting with patients, solving their problems and helping transform their lives. I really want to do both, which is the whole point of the dual-degree program, to prepare you to be a clinician-scientist. It’s a lot of things to juggle, but it’s going to be very exciting because every day will be different.”
And Rojas has demonstrated that he is more than willing to try something different.