I grew up catching praying mantises and damselflies in rural Kentucky. As an undergraduate at Centre College, I majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; I spent my summers taking care of sick children at the Center for Courageous Kids and doing research in organic chemistry and neuroscience. I matriculated directly to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed my first three years of medical school. I then moved to Janelia Research Campus as a HHMI Medical Research Fellow; there I studied the neural and genetic bases of behavior. As a PhD student in Zoology, I will study adaptive behavior. All animals integrate information about past experience into future decisions; this is the basis of learning and memory. I am proposing to write a specific memory and read the memory trace in the brain. I will use the fruit fly as a model organism. By understanding mechanisms of memory storage, we can begin to investigate changes in memory formation in disease; this may allow us to develop rational therapies for disorders of memory formation, including autism and Alzheimer’s disease. After completing my PhD, I will return to finish my last year of medical school and pursue a career as a child neurologist and neuroscientist, using my lab to better understand the patients I see in clinic.
Centre College
What can astronomy tell us about our place in the universe? Three Gates Cambridge Scholars discuss the history of astronomy, current research into exo-planets and what studying the planets and […]
Gates Cambridge Scholars have been active in all fields and none more so than economics, whether that be economic development, climate economics, political economy, workers’ rights, tax or the circular […]
Zoljargal Enkh-Amgalan [Zoloo for short] fell in love with Anthropology as soon as she knew what it was. It seemed to bring together all her interests in people, culture and […]
Annie Shelton’s research explores how to build resilient food systems in extreme environments that can enable people to thrive both on Earth and in space. “Space agriculture not only helps […]
Two Gates Cambridge Scholars have been selected for the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship. Briseyda Barrientos Ariza and Vaithish Velazhahan are two of 30 exceptional immigrants and children of immigrants who […]
Pranav Ganta’s work is focused on understanding and managing risk – not just within one discipline, but across the many interconnected systems that shape our world. At Cambridge he will […]
In the world of plant sciences, connections often transcend time, geography and even plant species. Such is the case with Greg Reeves and Anoop Tripathi, two Gates Cambridge Scholars from […]
“People have been misled about what education is,” says Tara Westover [2008, pictured right]. It’s not just about passing exams, homework and essays, she states. It’s about accessing different ideas […]
Abbie Schipper’s work is focused on problem-solving. She always wanted to be a doctor and to make a difference to people’s lives, but studying medicine was not enough. She wants […]
Three Gates Cambridge Scholars debate what works when it comes to promoting conservation and biodiversity in the latest episode of our podcast So, now what? Michael Pashkevich, Onon Bayasgalan and […]
Five Gates Cambridge Scholars working in bioprinting, whistleblowing, food security, pandemic preparedness and biometrics outlined their ideas for a better world at a Cambridge Festival event on Friday. The event, […]