25 September 2025

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Student Research Group helps foster scientific curiosity

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As the research community at Adams School of Dentistry continues to make scientific strides in oral health care and research, new ideas and an innate curiosity are part of what drives this success. And while faculty and staff researchers are an integral part of the research enterprise, new faces can sometimes bring new perspectives to research, further expanding the scope of innovation and potentially leading to new discoveries. 

ASOD helps fuel that pipeline with the Student Research Group (SRG), a student organization that partners with faculty to delve deeper into the research field with faculty mentors guiding the process. The group of about 27 research-minded students also present at Research Day events, host mixers for students, faculty and staff, lead lunch and learns and host journal clubs.

“The school encourages students to think creatively and pursue questions that matter to them without pressuring them into doing research. ASOD also provides opportunities like the Short-Term Research Fellowships to encourage students to develop research skills and encourage students to participate in research at ASOD,” said Thomas McCutcheon, DDS candidate ‘28. 

“The faculty are approachable and invested in mentoring students, which makes it easy to explore ideas and translate them into meaningful projects,” said Alison Morton, DDS candidate ‘27.

In addition to access to ASOD researchers, students are exposed to a multi-disciplinary group of scientists from UNC School of Medicine, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Eschelman School of Pharmacy, all providing a wealth of knowledge in their respective fields. 

As a faculty mentor, Kimon Divaris, DDS, PhD, chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health and the James Bawden Distinguished Professor, stresses the importance of mentorship as a benefit for both researchers and the students they guide.

“Witnessing our talented students develop into critically thinking, curious, innovative, and disruptive oral health professionals through their research involvement is immensely fulfilling. Their dedication often leads to significant discoveries, enriching their academic journeys and accelerating the future of oral health science, with the ultimate goal of improving human health. My own research program has also significantly benefited from interacting with our student investigators; they play important direct roles in carrying out research programs and bring fresh perspectives, allowing us to explore complex problems more deeply. It is a profound privilege to be in a position to give back and support them as they grow into the next generation of leaders and scientists, just as I have benefited from my own inspirational mentors,” Divaris said.

“The Student Research Group creates an intimate working relationship between faculty and residents that can provide early exposure and opportunities for research and mentorship. SRG has personally helped me to source project funding, present at national conferences, and to find multiple research projects. Our group also connects students to the professional development, networking, and leadership resources of AADOCR, setting us up with the skills and relationships needed to advance dentistry forward,” Morton said. 

For many students, these opportunities are new and something they may not have considered before joining UNC or coming to ASOD. 

McCutcheon said his first introduction to research was during his undergraduate years, when he participated in a research lab “speed dating” event where students would rotate from booth to booth and learn more about labs on campus that were looking for students. He loved working with his hands, so he joined a biomechanics lab that allowed him to work in a machine shop where he helped design and build exercise equipment for people with mobility challenges. 

“My goal is to explore how these processes affect both patient outcomes and broader public health. I hope to eventually investigate how we can design and engineer the next generation of biomaterials, materials that are not only more durable but also more biocompatible and sustainable. Ultimately, I want to ask questions that help us refine clinical decision-making while also considering long-term environmental and systemic health effects,” he said.

For Morton, she started as a research assistant before spending the next three years in the lab studying substance use disorders and treatments to prevent relapse. 

“It seemed like the perfect way to use science to improve the lives of others. In the lab, I gained hands-on experience in analytical chemistry and even performed surgeries on rodent models. What started as curiosity turned into three years in the lab, a funded research fellowship, and an honors thesis!” she said.

Now, Morton is focused on research that guides clinical decision-making.

“As a dental student, I have studied topics like non-fluoridated dental products and clear aligner therapy, both of which underscore the importance of critically evaluating treatment options.  In dentistry, advancing evidence-based knowledge is critical for ensuring that the care we provide is safe, effective, and responsive to patient needs,” she said.

Source: https://dentistry.unc.edu/