The End of my TRIP by Mitchell Morin

It’s hard to believe that my time in TRIP is already coming to an end. Just a few weeks ago, I was learning how to sort flies and trying not to mix up my vials. Now, I’ve completed a full independent project from start to finish. Looking back, I definitely made my fair share of mistakes, but it’s incredible to see how much I’ve grown – both in my technical skills and in the way I think as a scientist. I’ve learned how to design experiments, troubleshoot when things go wrong, interpret data, and communicate my findings to a like-minded scientific community. This experience has challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, but it’s also been very rewarding.

---

For my independent project, I explored how a high-fat diet impacts cognitive function, specifically larval memory, and whether fenugreek – a supplement commonly used to reduce cholesterol – would counteract those effects. I chose this topic because I’ve always been warned that eating lots of eggs and fatty foods could be harmful, but I also came across research highlighting the potential benefits of healthy fats. So, I wanted to see whether these dietary choices truly affect organisms in measurable ways. To test this, I created four experimental groups: a control with normal food, a high-fat group, a fenugreek-only group, and a group exposed to both fat and fenugreek. After seven days, I harvested larvae from each vial and conditioned them to associate a banana scent with a sugar reward and a pineapple scent with no reward. Then, I placed them in the center of a test plate with banana scent on one side and pineapple on the other, and monitored which direction they moved. Those that moved toward the banana smell were considered to have a functioning memory.

---

Running this experiment was definitely a rollercoaster. There were moments when I wasn’t sure if the experiment was even working or if the variables would have any measurable effect, and I had to adjust when things didn’t go according to plan. But seeing the results, especially the clear differences between the groups, was really exciting. It turns out that the high-fat diet did boost larval memory, but fenugreek did not have a significant effect. These findings surprised me and went against my original hypothesis, making me think more critically about the role of supplements and diet in overall health.

---

TRIP has been such a unique and meaningful experience. I grew to enjoy working in the lab each week, collaborating with other passionate students, and learning from mentors who genuinely care about our growth. While balancing TRIP with school and other responsibilities was tough at times, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. It gave me a real taste of scientific research and helped solidify my interest in pursuing science in the future. Thank you for following along with my TRIP journey – I'm grateful for everything this program has taught me.

---