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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
Gates Scholars talk at Festival of Ideas
Gates scholars Ian Ralby, Mateja Peter and Muhammad Irfan will talk about their PhD research at the forthcoming Festival of Ideas. The festival is organised by the University of Cambridge and will run throughout late October. The Gates Scholars’ session be held between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on 24th October in the Little Hall, Sidgwick Site. […]
Gates Ambassadors reach out to prospective applicants
As part of the Gates Ambassadors program, Gates alumni have been giving information sessions about the University of Cambridge and the Gates Cambridge Scholarships. A number of the 24 Gates Ambassadors have given information sessions at a various universities in the USA and other countries. Sessions have recently been held at a number of universities […]
External and Internal Calendar Items for Michaelmas 2009
Five events have now been planned for Michaelmas Term 2009. More information about the talks and their venues will be available shortly. Tuesday, 13 October 2009“Just listen they’re scared: The application of hostage negotiation in everyday life.” Richard Mullender [Speaker Biography]Former member of the Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit, Scotland Yard Tuesday, 20 October […]
Distinguished Lecture Series: Mr Richard Mullender, Michaelmas 2009
The External Officers on the Gates Scholars’ Council are pleased to welcome the first speaker of the Michaelmas Term 2009 to Cambridge on October 13th. Tuesday, 13 October 2009“Just listen they’re scared: the application of hostage negotiation in everyday life”Richard MullenderFormer member of the Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit, Scotland Yard6:30pm, Location TBA Richard […]
Webinar on Gates Cambridge Scholarships now available
The Gates Scholars’ Alumni Association held a virtual information session on the Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme last week. The webinar, 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. The webinar was organised by Dr Andrew Robertson (Co-Chair of the […]
US alumnus writes on the benefits of Community College
Anyone who has studied in the US will be interested to read a recent article on the St Louis Today website by Joel Jennings (2003, PhD Geography). He writes eloquently of the route to higher education via community college, and the long-lasting influence that a good mentor can have on a student at the right […]
Administrative Assistant needed at the Trust
Administrative Assistant Gates Cambridge Trust Salary: £20,226 The Gates Cambridge Trust offers scholarships to outstanding young men and women from outside the UK to pursue postgraduate study and research at the University of Cambridge. There are currently over 900 Gates Scholars from more than 90 countries (over 250 studying in Cambridge, almost 600 alumni spread […]
Gates Virtual Coffee House: live recording available
Back in May, a group of NGO founders – including two Gates alumni – put on a virtual coffee house to discuss youth and social entrepreneurship. A live recording of the webinar is now available from http://sites.google.com/site/gatescoffeehouse. Moderated by Philip Rucker, National Correspondent for The Washington Post, the virtual coffee house included panelists from a […]
Bill and Melinda Gates meet Gates Scholars in Cambridge
Back in June Gates Scholars had the opportunity to meet their benefactors face to face. Bill and Melinda Gates were in Cambridge to receive Honorary Degrees from the University, but took time out from their ceremonial duties to speak to a large gathering of Gates students, and answer their questions about the work of the […]
Bill Gates Sr speaks about Gates Cambridge Scholarships during interview
Mr Bill Gates Sr. recently spoke at the Commonwealth Club of California. During the interview, Mr Gates was asked “What makes you speechless?”. He replied that one thing that made him speechless was his “trips to Cambridge to meet Gates Cambridge Scholars”. He described the programme as “awesome” and said of the time he spends […]
