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 Spring 2025

Degrees:

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

Dr. Masino is the Vernon D. Roosa 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.

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 change mitigation, biodiversity, and public health. She has also published papers and policies on natural stewardship of forest ecosystems.

"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 publication list on Google Scholar since 2019

Check out her edited book, updated to the second edition in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Ketogenic Diet, and her Inaugural Lecture as the Vernon D. Roosa Professor of Applied Science.

Here is a link to a summary of Professor Masino's research.

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

Here is curated information on a series Olmsted, Nature, Science and Health. Stay tuned for a new project in Olmsted in Hartford, featuring Keney Park and the Ten Mile Woods.

Here is a link to the seminal paper on proforestation 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 titled: "The Power of Place: Climate-Regulating Ecosystems for Local and Global Wellbeing."

curriculum vitae