Mildred Cohn
Encyclopedia
Mildred Cohn was an American biochemist. She graduated from high school at 14 and went on to receive her Bachelor's from Hunter College
in 1931, her master's in 1932 from Columbia University
, and her PhD in physical chemistry in 1938 from Columbia. Cohn joined the staff of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1960.
Cohn wrote 160 papers, focusing on the topics of isotopes and ATP. She won the Garvan-Olin Medal
the National Medal of Science in 1982. She was awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal
in 1975.
During her career, Cohn achieved several gender firsts: She was the first woman to be appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry
, the first woman to become president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
, and the first female career investigator for the American Heart Association
. In 2009, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
in Seneca Falls, New York
.
Outside science, Cohn was married to physicist
Henry Primakoff
from 1946 until his death in 1983.
Hunter College
Hunter College, established in 1870, is a public university and one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Hunter grants undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate degrees in more than one hundred fields of study, and is recognized...
in 1931, her master's in 1932 from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and her PhD in physical chemistry in 1938 from Columbia. Cohn joined the staff of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1960.
Cohn wrote 160 papers, focusing on the topics of isotopes and ATP. She won the Garvan-Olin Medal
Garvan-Olin Medal
The Francis P. Garvan–John M. Olin Medal is an annual award that recognizes distinguished service to chemistry by women chemists. The Award is offered by the American Chemical Society , and consists of a cash prize and a medal. The medal was designed by Margaret Christian Grigor.Any individual...
the National Medal of Science in 1982. She was awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal
Elliott Cresson Medal
The Elliott Cresson Medal, also known as the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, was the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. The award was established by Elliott Cresson, life member of the Franklin Institute, with $1,000 granted in 1848...
in 1975.
During her career, Cohn achieved several gender firsts: She was the first woman to be appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Biological Chemistry
Journal of Biological Chemistry
The Journal of Biological Chemistry is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1905. Since 1925 it is published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It covers research in any area of biochemistry or molecular biology. The editor-in-chief is...
, the first woman to become president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a learned society that was founded on December 26, 1906 at a meeting organized by John Jacob Abel...
, and the first female career investigator for the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. In 2009, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
National Women's Hall of Fame
The National Women's Hall of Fame is an American institution. It was created in 1969 by a group of people in Seneca Falls, New York, the location of the 1848 Women's Rights Convention...
in Seneca Falls, New York
Seneca Falls (village), New York
Seneca Falls is a village in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 6,861 at the 2000 census. The village is in the Town of Seneca Falls, east of Geneva, New York. On March 16, 2010, village residents voted to dissolve the village, a move that would take effect at the end of 2011...
.
Outside science, Cohn was married to physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
Henry Primakoff
Henry Primakoff
Henry Primakoff was a theoretical physicist who is famous for his discovery of the Primakoff effect....
from 1946 until his death in 1983.