Trout's Research is Swimming Towards a Brighter Tomorrow

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University has various academic schools, but one that students may not know about is the schools of zebrafish. Within the lab that houses them is where you’ll find Emily Trout focusing on her research in biology. 

Emily didn’t want to go to a large university where it would be difficult to get in touch with professors. This is why SU was a perfect fit for her. She works in Dr. Jessica Clark’s lab where they use zebrafish as their model organism to study the effects of diabetes. Her research advisor has allowed her to lead her own studies but also gives her assistance when she needs help. Emily loves the ability to be independent while having hands-on experience as she works on her thesis project in pursuit of her Master of Science in Applied Biology. 

“I’m proud to be able to balance many projects at once,” Emily said. “While working on my thesis, I’ve worked on different projects to see what is the best aspect for the experiments to focus on.”  

For Emily, SU is a great place to help students find their own path in the science field. With so many options in biology, it can be difficult for students to figure out what avenue they want to take. Luckily, there are many courses that help students explore different tracks and find the one that fits them best.  

“Courses here at Salisbury are unique,” she said. “You can really find your niche.” 

When she’s not working in the lab, Emily is serving as the Graduate Student Representative for the Henson Student Leadership Advisory Council (H-SLAC), is an active member of the Henson STEM Outreach Committee and also works as a TA teaching Biology 101 labs.  

For Emily, the skills she has learned and the connections that she has made at SU are important to her. 
“My communication skills and connections have grown,” she says. “Thinking on your own is important but science is collaborative. Communicating with professors about what is happening in the lab and establishing connections are important too.” 

Emily’s goal is working in the industry side of science in a cancer biology lab. She has always loved the hands-on research and problem solving that comes with lab work. Though it may only be her first year as a graduate student, Emily is already making a splash with her research. And at SU, she’s got what she needs to succeed.