Tom Sussan

Biology (Aquatic and Marine Biology)

During his time at Stetson, Tom has excelled in his Biology, Psychology, and Honors Program studies, while also pursuing his passions for medicine and marine ecosystems. 

Tom has engaged in both clinical and coastal research. In 2021, he contributed to vaccine trials at Progressive Medical Research. Tom also assisted Stetson's Dr. Corie Charpentier in coastal fieldwork to support a light pollution study. In 2022, Tom was awarded a Stetson SURE Grant to support his senior research project. Tom designed an elegant field experiment to evaluate the impacts of boat wakes and oyster presence on the settlement of larval oysters in Mosquito Lagoon. This experiment included constructing, deploying, and monitoring concrete settlement cylinders, which withstood two hurricanes and 20 weeks of valuable data collection. Tom presented his research at the Indian River Lagoon Symposium in February and will also present this month at the ShORE Symposium.

Tom and his research mentor, Dr. Charpentier, plan to publish his research in a scientific journal. In addition to his academic pursuits, Tom is an avid boater, fisher, and President of Stetson’s Surf Club. In the fall, Tom will attend medical school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.