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Benjamin Cocanougher
- Alumni
- United States
- 2016 PhD Zoology
- St Catharine's College
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.
Previous Education
Centre College
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Latest News
History prize for Gates alumnus
A Gates alumnus has been awarded two prestigious prizes for his doctoral dissertation on Germany’s policy towards Islam during the 1940s. Dr David Motadel [2006], who is a Research Fellow in History at Gonville and Caius College, was awarded the 2011 Prize of the German Historical Institute. The Prize is awarded annually for an outstanding […]
Behind the scenes at Cambridge Festival of Ideas
The Cambridge Festival of Ideas, a celebration of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, launches today and a Gates scholar has been working behind the scenes to help it all run smoothly. Jessica Cooney [2009], who is studying for a PhD in Archaeology, got involved with the Festival, which runs from 19 to 30 October […]
Professor Rick Young to give Distinguished Gates Lecture
Professor Rick Young will speak about his ground-breaking genetics research and its implications for future medicine at a Gates Distinguished Lecture this week. Named one of the top 50 leaders in science, technology and business by Scientific American, Professor Young’s lecture, Genetics, Epigenetics and Future Medicine, will take place on 19th October at Magdalene College […]
Careers webinar proves success
How to apply successfully for grant, how to patent your ideas and how to take your research from the idea to the business stage were three of the main issues covered in the first virtual seminar on career transitions organised by Gates alumni. The webinar took place on 8thOctober and was organised by Pradipta Biswas, […]
Mental time travel may occur in a new group of birds
Certain types of birds may track army ant swarms using sophisticated memory and the ability to plan for the future, according to new research co-authored by a Gates scholar. Some tropical birds collect their prey at army ant raids, where massive swarms of ants sweep through the forest and drive out insects. The behaviour of […]
Networking organisation reaches out to alumni
A networking organisation co-founded by Gates alumni and designed to help bright young people get the ear of busy decision makers is opening up to the public from Monday. Robyn Scott and Hamish Forsyth‘s organisation OneLeap featured in The Independent’s business section this week. It aims to make it easier for people with good ideas […]
The meaning of emoticons
The emoticons used on Twitter are a language in themselves and are taking on new and often surprising meanings of their own, according to new research by a Gates scholar. Alex Davies [2010] has created a visual map of the words associated with Twitter emoticons. It’s not just the usual smiley and sad face emoticons […]
Gavin McGillivray to deliver Distinguished Lecture
Gavin McGillivray, head of the new Private Sector Department of the UK Department for International Development, will give the first Gates Distinguished Lecture of the academic year tomorrow. McGillivray will speak about his new role at Queen’s Lecture Theatre, Emmanuel College, from 6-8pm on 13 October. He was previously head of DFID’s Global Funds & […]
Gates scholar co-author in major hypoglycaemia study
Gates scholar Marina Minic has played a key role in research which has identified the cause of a rare, life-threatening form of hypoglycaemia. The findings, published in the journal Science, have the potential to lead to pharmaceutical treatments for the disorder. Hypoglycaemia, usually characterised by too much insulin which results in too little sugar in […]
Safer energy
Niraj Lal [2008], or Nij as he is known, practises what he preaches. Since arriving at the University of Cambridge on a Gates scholarship, he has been involved in a whole range of outreach work with children and adults, explaining the work he does researching solar cells and panels. He adds: “I think one of […]
