#StudentSpotlight: Philip Bender is a Ph.D. candidate in the WVU Department of Neuroscience. As a musician, Philip said his initial interest in neuroscience was heavily based on music and auditory perception. His current research delves into synaptic zinc signaling in the auditory cortex, shedding light on how zinc modulates AMPA receptors and resolving long-standing controversies in the field. "With my first author publication, I addressed a long-standing controversy by demonstrating both the enhancing and suppressing effects of zinc, unifying conflicting findings in the field. This research sheds light on the physiological impact of zinc signaling in auditory processing pathways." As the vice president of the Neuroscience Graduate Student Organization (NGSO), Philip spearheads their social and charitable events, like Feed Your Brain, and helps with the mentorship of undergraduate students, fostering a vibrant community of neuroscience enthusiasts. #WVUNeuro #WVUNeurology #WVURNI ...