Suhaylah Ahmad Ali

More about me:

What is your major and anticipated graduation?

Zoology, May 2026

How did you decide to attend MSU?

Michigan State offered a large campus surrounded by a natural environment, as well as resources to support students' study of the natural sciences.

How did you select your major?

I carried a lot of inspiration from the local zoos and aquariums I visited in childhood. I had a fascination with studying wildlife but I didn’t know how people entered the profession. Zoology offered classes that took a broader perspective on the study of animals and I thought that would be a great place to start gathering ideas and networking with professors who could help me decide what profession in the field would be fulfilling to me.

Can you describe your research?

My research is focused on understanding the life cycle of a parasite that transfers between two hosts, with the potential to spread disease in the kidneys of freshwater salmon species, raising their mortality rate and threatening their populations. In my project, I am studying what other invertebrates, such as invasive mussels, may be able to host and transmit the parasite to fish.

What is the societal impact of your research?

Fishing is a major recreational sport and industry in Michigan. Not only that, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources monitors the migratory salmonid species to ensure their populations are at a sufficient level for the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. If the parasite transfers between wild and hatchery-raised fish, or if their prevalence is raised too high due to rising temperatures, the mortality of these fish populations may increase due to kidney disease caused by the parasite. This poses a threat to the surrounding fish industries and the health of the aquatic ecosystems.

How has your undergraduate experience been impacted by research experience?

One thing was I didn’t realize how powerful research felt until I was actively participating in it. I may be working in a lab that is focusing on a very specific parasite that infects a specific family of fish, but after learning about the major investigative questions that drove the research, it became so much easier to see the big picture. I could make a positive impact by studying biodiversity, aquatic fish health, and wildlife diseases.

Of everything you have experienced at MSU, what has surprised you the most/what is something you never expected?

I never expected that someone as quiet and introverted as I was in freshman year, could start leading class projects, presenting independent research, and confidently network with other professors to achieve my dreams. I am now not a different person than before, but the same person with a developed sense of self.

If your sibling was coming to MSU, what is one piece of advice you would give them?

While no university is perfect, what makes a university valuable is that they offer learning experiences that fit your interests and those learning experiences help you grow as a person. Michigan State offers those opportunities to everyone, you just have to voice your interests and never not be open to learning something new.

Plans after graduation?

Pursue a Phd in Wildlife Disease Ecology.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Conducting field work to study an emerging disease as well as how environmental factors influence the immunity of animals this disease impacts.

How important is this scholarship to you personally and to your future career?

As a crucial part of all research, the Dean’s Research Scholars program provides me with more opportunities to communicate the value of my research to others. It also allows me to connect with students in vastly different but equally impactful and innovative fields to expand my interests past my own research. I may now be studying a small bubble in a big world, but developing my ability to see the big picture and how it matters on a larger scale will be a powerful guide for me in a future research focused career.