The Buzz Behind Sweeteners by Sabina Tulendinova

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the TRIP Initiative, a program that gave me hands-on experience in scientific research, collaboration, and problem-solving. From the start, TRIP pushed me to think independently, ask meaningful questions, and design experiments with real-world impact. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience that has deepened both my interest in science and my confidence in a lab setting.
For my independent project, I chose to explore how artificial sweeteners affect energy levels. My question was: Do sweeteners like stevia and aspartame impact the energy and activity levels of fruit flies compared to sugar or no sweetener at all? This idea was inspired by how common artificial sweeteners are in our daily diets—from “sugar-free” drinks to low-calorie snacks—and how little we really know about their biological effects. As someone interested in healthcare and nutrition, I wanted to explore whether these sweeteners could actually be altering our energy in ways we don’t notice.

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To test this, I used both a negative geotaxis assay (which measures adult fly movement) and a larval locomotion assay (which evaluates movement in developing flies). The results were clear: all three sweeteners—stevia, sugar, and aspartame—increased energy and activity compared to the control. In adult flies, stevia and sugar had the strongest effects, with nearly equal percentages of active flies—both significantly higher than those in the control group. In larvae, stevia stood out by producing the highest average movement, suggesting it may be particularly effective at enhancing energy. Aspartame also showed a moderate boost in activity in both assays, though its effects were not as strong as stevia or sugar.

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One of the highlights of TRIP was being surrounded by such talented and motivated people. I loved working alongside students who were curious, passionate, and always willing to help. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Purdy, Dr. Austria, Dr. Valdes, Mr. Cozzone, and all of the TAs for their constant support, encouragement, and guidance throughout the program. Their enthusiasm and expertise made every session meaningful and enjoyable.
TRIP has taught me more than I ever expected—from designing an experiment and analyzing data to improving my presentation skills and working efficiently in a lab environment. One of my favorite parts was the independence we were given; we weren’t just following steps from a textbook—we were developing real questions, troubleshooting problems, and drawing our own conclusions. Although there were challenges along the way, every setback helped me grow as a student and a scientist. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and would highly recommend TRIP to any student looking to explore research, develop new skills, and discover their potential in science.

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