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Benjamin Cocanougher

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

Latest News

New Gates Scholars selected for 2010

The full cohort of Gates Scholars for 2010 has now been selected, following the second round of interviews in Cambridge last week. See here for information about the selection process, […]

Gates Scholar interviewed on Naked Scientist radio show

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Gates Cambridge Scholar Profile – Rachel Pike

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Bill and Melinda Gates meet with Gates Cambridge Scholars

A 12 minute film from June 2009 when Bill and Melinda Gates came to Cambridge to meet with Gates Cambridge Scholars.

Gates Scholar wins prestigious NASA fellowship

Caitlin Casey (2007) – a recent Gates alumna – has been awarded the prestigious Hubble Fellowship to pursue her research at the University of Hawai’i. The Director of the Space […]

Barack Obama’s New Media Director gives Gates Lecture

Barack Obama’s New Media Director discussed the lessons learned from the US presidential campaign at a distinguished lecture in Cambridge this week. As the UK prepares for a general election […]

Information for applicants for 2010

The Gates Cambridge Trust has now emailed all candidates who have been shortlisted for interviews at the end of March. If you have not received an email from the Trust […]

Gates Scholar’s research suggests on-line security questions are too easy

Joseph Bonneau (2008) – Gates Scholar, Chair of the Scholars’ Council and PhD student at the University’s Computer Lab – has been undertaking research with his colleagues which has found […]