We have been holding a series of events called “Find-Your-Role-Model” Session to provide students with opportunities to interact with TMDU alumni and worldwide leaders in health sciences. Through this talk show, relaxed atmosphere event, we hope students will be able to find their role models in order to facilitate their career development in becoming future global leaders.

This time we will host Associate Professor Noriaki Ono, DDS, PhD. After graduating summa cum laude from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in 2003 with a DDS degree, Dr. Ono achieved a PhD degree from TMDU’s Department of Orthodontic Science in 2007. After completing his clinical fellowship in Orthodontics at TMDU, he moved to the United States in 2009 to focus on his research, where he completed his research fellowship in the Endocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital. He then became an instructor at the same institute, while teaching part-time in the orthodontics program at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. His research focuses on the biology of skeletal lineage cells and their role in health and diseases of craniofacial and skeletal tissues. His research has been funded by the NIH since 2012, through K99, R00 and R01 mechanisms. In 2014, he became Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, then rose to the rank of Associate Professor in 2020. In 2021, he was recruited to University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry. As a leading scientist of the next generation who has already been beloved by prominent figures of dental science, Dr. Noriaki Ono is currently continuing his research on the role of skeletal stem cells using genetically modified mice while dedicating his time to the education of future orthodontists and dentists.

This session will be carried out in a talk show-style discussion and will cover the following points.

Everyone is welcome to join us in a hearty discussion.

Topics

Personal Background / Mindset

His career vision and its origin, the reason he pursued a career in research, role-models, making decisions at crossroads, past hardships/failures and how he overcame them, his future goals

Current activities

Regarding his past and current research on skeletal stem cells, his future plans for research.

His mindset as a researcher

A key to achieve success in research (ex. effective ways to select appropriate research topics, ways to stay creative and curious)

Advice for students/young professionals

Advice for students thinking of pursuing a career in basic research. (ex. appropriate mindset, tips for career planning, things that they should accomplish during undergraduate studies)