Carolyn Cohen facts for kids
Carolyn Cohen (born June 18, 1929 – died December 20, 2017) was an amazing American scientist. She was a biologist, which means she studied living things, and a biophysicist, meaning she looked at how physics works inside living things. She was also a special member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a group that honors top thinkers and leaders.
Her School Days
Carolyn Cohen went to high school in New York City at Hunter College High School. After that, she studied at Bryn Mawr College. In 1950, she earned a special degree in Biology and Physics, graduating with very high honors. She then went on to get her Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). For her Ph.D., she wrote about how the tiny parts of a protein called collagen are shaped like a spiral.
Her Work as a Scientist
Dr. Cohen became a Professor of Biology at Brandeis University. Even after she retired, she continued to be a Professor Emeritus, which means she kept her title and connection to the university. At the Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center, she spent her time studying the shapes of protein structures. Proteins are like tiny machines in our bodies. She was especially interested in "motor proteins," which are proteins that help things move, like muscles. To see these tiny shapes, she used a special method called X-ray crystallography. This technique uses X-rays to figure out the exact arrangement of atoms in a crystal, helping scientists understand how proteins work.
Awards and Special Honors
Carolyn Cohen received many awards for her important work:
- She was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This means she was recognized as a leading expert in her field.
- She was also a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, which is one of the highest honors a scientist in the United States can receive.
- In 2000, she received the Biophysical Society Founder's Award. This award celebrated her many achievements in the field of Biophysics.
