Rate My Professor Adam Cohen

Cohen's research at the interface of physics, chemistry, and biology develops physical tools to probe molecules and cells under warm, wet conditions, spanning quantum mechanics to neural circuits. His lab pioneered fluorescent voltage-indicating proteins derived from microbial rhodopsins, enabling all-optical electrophysiology; landmark papers include 'All-optical electrophysiology in mammalian neurons using engineered microbial rhodopsins' (Hochbaum et al., Nature Methods, 2014), 'Optical recording of action potentials in mammalian neurons using a microbial rhodopsin' (Kralj et al., Nature Methods, 2012), and 'Electrical spiking in Escherichia coli probed with a fluorescent voltage-indicating protein' (Kralj et al., Science, 2011). Other innovations encompass the discovery of optical chirality ('Optical chirality and its interaction with matter,' Tang & Cohen, Physical Review Letters, 2010; 'Enhanced enantioselectivity in excitation of chiral molecules by superchiral light,' Tang & Cohen, Science, 2011), the Anti-Brownian Electrokinetic (ABEL) trap for single-molecule trapping, and studies of quantum coherence in magnetosensitive reactions and cell membrane mechanics. Cohen's tools have transformed neural circuit mapping and bioelectrical signaling research. His honors include the Blavatnik National Award in Chemistry, American Chemical Society Pure Chemistry Award, NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, MIT Technology Review TR35, and Popular Science Brilliant Ten.