Emily Trimm

An MD-PhD student in biophysics at Stanford University, Emily Trimm is interested in combining genomics with innovative biophysical techniques to address some of the biggest unanswered questions in human disease.

Her current research in Kristy Red-Horse’s group uses multiomic data from high-altitude species such as guinea pigs, alpine ibex and snow leopards to better understand the role of mechanical cues in blood vessel development. This research informs the design of new bioengineered blood vessels and has implications for tissue engineering and transplant medicine.

Trimm received her bachelor’s degree in physics and biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked in Michael Lampson’s lab to uncover the molecular mechanisms of meiotic drive, a phenomenon in which “selfish” chromosomes bias their transmission to the egg. After attending the Physics of Life summer program at Princeton University, she became interested in liquid-liquid phase transitions, ultimately designing sticky constructs to improve optogenetic protein recruitment in single cells.

Trimm grew up in Marsh Gibbon, a small agricultural village on the outskirts of Oxford, England. She immigrated to the United States with her family in 2007 and enjoys visiting them in their new hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida. Outside of the lab, Trimm cares deeply about improving scientific outreach and supporting mental health within the community. In college, she served as president of the university’s Women in Physics group, creating new opportunities for mentorship to enhance the retention of underrepresented students in physics. As a medical student, she serves on the Ears-4-Peers student mental health team.