Itai Cohen

 

      Itai Cohen is a physics professor at Cornell University who received a B.S. in physics in 1995 from the University of California at Los Angeles. He received a Ph.D. in physics in 2001 from the University of Chicago and was a post-doctoral associate at Harvard University from 2001-2005 until he joined the Cornell University faculty. 

    His lab studies matter in motion, specifically focusing on complex fluids, biological tissues, biolocomotion, origami materials, microscopic robotics, and magnetic handshake materials. His work with complex fluids focuses on shear thickening fluids like mixtures of cornstarch and water and on fluids under confinement. His work on biological tissues focuses on the shear properties of articular cartilage. His research in regards to biolocomotion is how insects fly and collective motion in mosh pits. He studies origami mechanics and folding patterns with the hopes of spurring technological advances such as efficient methods for packing solar panels. Cohen studies microscopic robots such as autonomous micro-origami machines that rapidly change shapes in response to environmental cues. He studies magnetic handshake materials that use magnetic dipole patterns on microscopic particles to influence their interactions with each other. 

    His research has many important implications in society; his research has helped uncover new methods to change the flow properties of thickening suspensions used to create spacesuits, 3D printing pastes, and fluids for vehicle traction control. His work with cartilage has revealed the mechanical properties needed for 3D printing replacement tissues. Cohen's research on microscopic robots may also shed light on how to perform surgery on the microscopic scale.

Sources

https://physics.cornell.edu/itai-cohen

http://cohengroup.lassp.cornell.edu/