Ryan Patterson is intrigued by the complexity of something that most of us take for granted…memory. With the assistance of a $3,000 Paladin Capital Group/ThanksUSA Scholarship, Ryan has begun his studies in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at John Hopkins University so that he may, one day, develop therapies or even a cure for diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Like most young college students, Ryan left the comfort of home to settle into his new academic community. As a military dependent, Ryan notes that the transition to college “felt just like another move.”Since his father, Colonel Chris Patterson, has served with the United States Air Force for nearly 25 years, Ryan is very comfortable accepting challenges and adapting to change.
“As a military child, my education was rather choppy because of constantly moving and switching schools. Also, it’s very challenging to have to pick-up and leave friends and make new ones on a regular basis. That said, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. These experiences have served me well while settling in at college,” says Ryan.
And settled in he has! Ryan has always had a deep passion for learning and his love of science led him to laboratory research. He explains, “In lab research, you are always on the forefront of scientific knowledge, constantly looking for, and discovering, things that no one else has ever seen before.” Ryan adds that his particular field “deals specifically with the individual neuron and the molecules it uses to communicate.”
during his research, Ryan captured this image of a neuron in the visual cortex of a mouse
Ryan expounds on his interest in memory research saying, “The exact details of where and how memory works are only just being understood. Somehow your brain can distinguish between all your memories even though they appear to be identical chemically and electrically. If we can understand these fine details of how memory works, we may be able to develop a cure for diseases like Alzheimer’s.”
As he enters the final semester of his freshman year, Ryan is applying for a study abroad at Oxford University. The challenging program only accepts a few students each year, but Ryan’s academic record speaks for itself and he is confident about his chances. “If I get accepted, I will spend a year at St. Anne’s College, a division of Oxford, studying Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Spectroscopy, and Statistics,” says Ryan.
Although Ryan is most notably a scientifically minded, detail oriented student, he does step away from the lab on occasion. Music has always been an enjoyable outlet for Ryan and he reports, “Music continues to be a way to relax and relive stress when all of my academic work catches up with me.” He plays the bass clarinet in the Homewood campus Wind Ensemble and continues to hone his solo piano skills. Ryan also remains devoted to his Catholic faith and serves as a Eucharistic minister, lector, and alter server at Saint Phillips and James Church.
ThanksUSA wishes nothing but the best for Ryan on his continued academic journey. Perhaps, during our lifetime, his research will lead to better treatment for, or the eradication of, devastating neurological diseases. We close this week’s blog with a note of gratitude from Ryan:
“The Paladin Capital Group/ThanksUSA Scholarship provided part of the financial support that I needed to attend Johns Hopkins. This has allowed me to realize my dream of studying and researching at a world-class medical facility and has set me on the way to becoming a doctor.”
