The first time Bryan Wolf went out to lunch with his newest lab research assistant, then-College freshman Joshua Cook, he was struck by Cook's discourse about the plant on their table at the White Dog Cafe.
"The first impression you got was that he is very driven and very excited about science," said Wolf, Medical School professor and Pathologist-in-Chief at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Four years later, that drive and excitement has brought Cook - now a senior - the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which grants recipients one year of study and research at the University of Cambridge in England.
Cook is studying the regulation of a gene thought to be involved in the development of Type 2 Diabetes.
"I'm using biomedical research to improve the lives of those in need," he said.
At Cambridge, Cook will pursue a Master's degree in Philosophy in Clinical Biochemistry.
Cook said his lifelong interest in science developed through internships in high school and participation in New Jersey Governor's School in the Sciences.
"My experience in the lab made me really want to try it to a greater extent," he said.
When he arrived at Penn as a freshman, he knew he wanted to pursue research. After exploring a few labs, he chose the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia because it felt like a good fit.
Wolf said Cook has approached research independently and innovatively, even undertaking a new project a few months before graduation.
"He is very intense but also very funny," he said. "He functions at the level of a grad student, a good critical thinker."
Interim director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Harriet Joseph called Cook an "incredibly talented student."
His well-rounded interests are an asset, she said.
In addition to nearly three years as an intern at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Cook reviews films for 34th Street magazine.
Joseph said the Gates selection process resembles that of other scholarships for post-graduate work in the U.K. - such as the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships - although Gates does not require institutional endorsement.
About 100 scholars are selected each year from a pool of around 300.
Of the 16 Penn students who applied for the scholarship, four were selected for the interview stage.
Cook is the 16th Penn student to win the scholarship since it was established seven years ago by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Cook said he encourages other students who are interested in helping others through research to apply.
"I know I'll get a lot out of it and hopefully what I gain will help others," he said.
