William M. Jenkins, Ph.D., is Chief Scientific Officer at Scientific Learning Corporation. Scientific Learning is the publisher of the Fast ForWordâ„¢ family of learning products along with other technology-based learning tools.  One of the founders, he joined the company at inception 15 years ago from a faculty position at the Keck Center for Integrative Neurosciences at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.

Prior to co-founding Scientific Learning Corporation, Dr. Jenkins collaborated with Dr. Michael Merzenich at the University of California San Francisco on pioneering work in brain plasticity research.  That research helped reveal the importance of behavioral training in driving physiological changes in the brain of adult animal and human models that underlie performance improvements. Dr. Jenkins also led the design and development team at UCSF that collaborated with researchers at Rutgers University in the development of the computer based learning tools for use with children with delays in language development. These tools formed the basis for the first Fast ForWord product.

Dr. Jenkins is an expert in learning-based brain plasticity, behavioral algorithms, and psychophysical methods, as well as an expert in multimedia and Internet technology. He is an author or co-author of more than 100 publications and holds 46 U.S. patents and 12 foreign patents.

Dr. Jenkins earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology, along with a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in psychobiology, from Florida State University. Jenkins has authored or co-authored 13 commercial software products. He was recognized by Discovery Magazine in its annual Awards for Technology Innovations and received the Year 2000 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award.