News
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
- Share
Latest News
Hamish Forsyth and Robyn Scott (New Zealand)
The two have just launched Stirr London, a forum bringing together investment bankers, politicians, non-governmental organisations, think tanks and scholars to address the major challenging issues of our time in a way that, says Forsyth, “breaks down the silos between the different groups”. The first session in March was on climate change and drew 65 […]
Jessamyn Liu (USA)
As a Gates scholar, she met brilliant students from all over the world who had different perspectives on many different things. This opened up her mind to new ways of seeing the world. She has clearly, however, always been the kind of person who likes to be challenged. Her decision to apply to the United […]
Kathelijne Koops (The Netherlands)
She had noticed as early as 2004 that there were some branches with traces of fruit lying below particular trees near where the chimpanzees she was studying were living. “This triggered something in my mind which I decided to follow up for my PhD with systematic monitoring,” says Kathelijne. In March 2008, her team found […]
Gates alumni meet in Berlin despite volcanic travel chaos
Despite the necessary cancellation of the planned main Inaugural European Gates Alumni Meeting due to the pan-European travel disruptions, a small number of Gates Alumni reunited in the German capital for an informal, yet no less stimulating meeting on 16-17 April. Ironically, under that ominous, yet invisible cloud of volcanic ashes, outstanding weather allowed for […]
Gates Cambridge Scholarships – Introductory Film
A 12 minute film introducing the Gates scholarships and life and study in Cambridge.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships Information Session for applicants from the USA
This webinar, organised by the Scholars’ Alumni Association, was broadcast live to almost 200 people, provided key information about the Gates Cambridge Scholarships and life in Cambridge through a presentation and Q&A session.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships Information Session for applicants from outside the USA
This webinar information session discusses international education at Cambridge University through the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, including:experiences of undertaking a graduate degree at Cambridge University; experiences as a Gates Scholar; process for application and criteria for selection for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. This webinar is geared toward a non-US audience. A webinar for US applicanst is […]
Gates Scholars’ Alumni Association: Virtualcoffee House – Youth and Social Entrepreneurship
This teleconference discusses the challenges, strategies and rewards of youth social entrepreneurship. Specific topics include: identifying a promoting a cause; developing a strategy; pursuing fund raising and support; utilizing information technologies; finding mentors; developing an exit strategy.
Gates Scholars’ Alumni Association: Virtual Coffeehouse – Breaking into Politics
This teleconference discusses the challenges, strategies and rewards of youth engagement in politics. Specific topics include: running for office; developing a platform; pursuing fundraising and support; utilizing information technologies; life in office.
Gates Cambridge Scholars’ Distinguished Lecture: Professor Joshua Silver gives lecture on adaptive eye technology in the developing world
Professor Joshua Silver gives his Gates Scholars Distinguished Lecture entitled ‘How we do we really bring vision corrective to those that need it in the developing world?’. The lecture was held at the Cambridge Union Society on 3 February 2010.
