Trout is advancing neurotechnology to improve life for people with limb loss. His recent work on an AI-powered bionic hand was published in Nature Communications and featured by NPR and KSL TV. Trout’s research centers on AI-driven neural decoders—algorithms that translate nerve signals into movement commands. Patients can provide only limited data, so Trout develops data-efficient, patient-specific AI frameworks that learn from sparse signals and reflect user preferences, such as prioritizing stability or speed. He aims to make neuroprostheses more intuitive and customizable while setting ethical standards for data use. “This work will provide a means to study the function of AI, how it’s used by patients, and its long-term personal and medical impacts,” he said. Trout earned a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from the U in August 2025 under Jacob George and has continued as George’s postdoc.
