Cooper Bloyd

Class of 2015

Education: BS and MS in Animal Science at Cal Poly

 

Biography

Cooper was interested in stem cell research/ regenerative medicine because they are pushing the boundaries of what medicine is capable of in terms of diagnosis and treatment; scientists were learning more about tissue development and regeneration more than ever. His area of focus was in neurological disease and nerve regeneration. After the program he planned on applying to schools to pursue a PhD/MD.

Cooper was an intern in the Laboratory of Genetics at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.  His PI was Dr. Fred Gage, but he spent the majority of his time under the supervision of Dr. Tiago Goncalves at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.  Their group studied the integration and maturation of endogenous and transplanted adult-born granule neurons in the Dentate Gyrus through the use of in-vivo 2 photon imaging techniques. By following these cells in-vivo they hoped to gain a better understanding of how their development was altered by environmental influences and of their importance in learning and memory.  Cooper had many roles in the project including in-vivo cranial aspiration surgeries, DG viral or cell injections, trans-cardial perfusion, brain dissection and histology, and 2-photon imaging of the cranial windows.

After graduating, Cooper obtained a position as a research associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.