The Short and Sweet Story of My TRIP by Simran Kamal-Bahl

​Hi again! It’s hard to believe how quickly TRIP’26@WTHS has come to an end. Looking back, these past few months truly did “fly” by. From my first day back in the lab to presenting at the final symposium, this experience has been incredibly rewarding. Over the course of the program, I’ve gained so many valuable skills. From designing my own experiment to analyzing data and communicating my results. More importantly, I’ve learned how to think like a scientist: asking questions, problem-solving challenges, and staying resilient even when things don’t go the way I planned. As many TRIP students mention, the program really does go by faster than expected, and I now completely understand why. 

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​For my independent project, I built on my interest in nutrition by studying how ultra-processed food components impact biological health. Specifically, my research question asked: How does a high sugar diet combined with the emulsifier Polysorbate-80 affect gut health and female fertility in fruit flies? I chose this topic because Polysorbate-80 is a common additive found in many everyday ultra-processed foods like ice cream, salad dressings, and baked goods, yet most people don’t realize they are consuming it. I wanted to explore whether combining this emulsifier with high sugar, which more accurately reflects real-world sweet treats, would have more harmful effects than either factor alone. To investigate this, I used both the gut microbiome assay and the female fertility assay to examine changes in bacterial growth and reproductive outcomes.

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​While my project was exciting, it definitely came with its challenges. Like real scientific research, not everything went perfectly. I encountered variability in my data, including an outlier in one of my microbiome trials that forced me to think critically about data reliability and experimental error. Through these moments, I learned that setbacks are not failures, they are a real part of the process, and an opportunity to learn. The troubleshooting, repeating trials, and making decisions about data interpretation helped me grow as a researcher. In fact, these challenges made the experience even more meaningful because I was able to problem-solve and adapt, just like real scientists do.

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​Beyond the science, what made TRIP truly special was the environment. I loved collaborating with my peers, learning from my mentors, and sharing ideas in such a supportive space. Whether it was working through assays, preparing presentations, or just laughing during lab time, every Saturday was something I looked forward to. TRIP gave me a level of independence and hands-on experience that I don’t typically get in a classroom setting. It also helped me realize how much I enjoy pursuing research that connects to real-world issues, especially in nutrition and health.

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Overall, TRIP has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my high school journey so far. I’m so grateful to the instructors, TAs, and my fellow TRIP students for making this time so memorable. This program has not only strengthened my scientific skills but also confirmed my passion for research and pursuing a future in STEM. Although this may be the end of my TRIP blogs, it is definitely not the end of my journey in science. I’m excited to continue asking questions, exploring new ideas, and making an impact in the future!

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