Faculty Profile: Susan A. Masino

Susan A. Masino
Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Applied Science
Phone: (860) 297-2557	Office Location: Life Sciences Center 202
Send e-mail to Susan A. Masino
Trinity College faculty member since 2003	View office hours for Summer 2025

Degrees:

Ph.D., Univ. of California, Irvine
B.S., Tufts Univ.

Dr. Masino is the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College and a joint appointment in Neuroscience and Psychology. Her research focuses on promoting and restoring brain health, with a particular interest in adenosine, and on the relationship among metabolism, brain activity and behavior. For nearly 100 years a metabolic therapy called a “ketogenic diet” has been used to treat seizures, and recent mechanistic insights - including the role of adenosine – hold translational implications for brain health and diverse disorders. She is a founding member of the International Neurological Ketogenic Society

In addition to her laboratory research Dr. Masino is interested in how public policies can improve brain health. During 2018-2019 she was a Charles Bullard Fellow in Forest Research at Harvard and published the seminal paper on the benefits of proforestation (linked below) for climate stabilization, biodiversity, and public health.

"At its best, a liberal arts environment is where students and faculty alike achieve their full potential. Trinity understands that students learn more and retain more when they interact with scholars and teachers who are passionate about what they do and can help students find their own passion.

At Trinity I have opportunities to collaborate with students and share ideas, share my enthusiasm for research, and facilitate students moving on from Trinity feeling self-empowered to have a positive impact on their health and on local and global issues facing us today."

Here is her biomedical work on PubMed and cross-disciplinary publications on Google Scholar since 2019. She has also published policies and reports on natural stewardship of forest ecosystems and is a coauthor of the major regional report titled "Wildlands in New England: Past, Present, and Future."

Check out her edited book, updated to the second edition in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Ketogenic Diet, her Inaugural Lecture as the Vernon D. Roosa Professor of Applied Science, and a recent piece in the Transmitter based on a special recognition award from the Society for Neuroscience

Here is a link to a summary of Professor Masino's research and a recent article titled "What Nature Can Do for Your Brain (and Your Brain Can Do for Nature."

Here is an interview from the Global Symposium, podcasts with Vinnie Tortorich and Paul Burgess and Brian Williamson, and Earth+30.

Locally, has been advocating for the old forests in Hartford and beyond, and the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted, who is born and buried in Hartford. Here is a curated series of experts on Olmsted, Nature, Science and Health, and she is working with her students a new project about Olmsted in Hartford, featuring Keney Park and the Ten Mile Woods. She also working nationally with www.RESTORE.org on plans for new National Parks, especially in areas that lack National Parks.

Here is a link to the seminal paper on proforestation (2019) and a ~3 min audio interview on NEPR.

Here is a talk on Neuroscience and Nature for the 20th Anniversary of Northeast Wilderness Trust and one for Climate Action Now in Western Massachusetts in 2025 titled: "The Power of Place: Climate-Regulating Ecosystems for Local and Global Wellbeing."

curriculum vitae