July 17, 2026
Robert E. Cohen, St. Laurent Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus
Robert E. Cohen, Raymond A. (1921) and Helen E. St. Laurent Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9th, following a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79.
One of the most influential chemical engineering researchers in the world, Bob pioneered research in polymers and soft matter. Both a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, his achievements include discovery of omniphobic surfaces, block copolymer nanoreactors for inorganic cluster synthesis, tough-stiff nanocomposites, chain folding in confined geometries, and layer-by-layer assemblies for the biotic/abiotic interface. Bob was the founding director of MIT’s Program in Polymers and Soft Matter (PPSM – formerly the Program in Polymer Science and Technology (PPST)) and the architect of MIT’s unique PhDCEP program, through which students earn both a PhD in chemical engineering and an MBA from Sloan. He also directed the DuPont/MIT Alliance from its inception in 2000 until 2012.
Bob joined the MIT faculty in 1973 after earning his MS and PhD from Cornell and completing a postdoc at Oxford University. He then spent more than forty years as a professor of chemical engineering, earning international recognition as a groundbreaking researcher, teacher, entrepreneur, and mentor. Along with the NAE and AAAS, he was a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Polymer Division of the American Chemical Society, the American Physical Society and the Materials Research Society. He was co-founder and former chairman of MatTek Corporation.
Among the various awards and honors that he received over the years, he was most honored to receive the Paul J. Flory Polymer Education Award, presented by the American Chemical Society in 2012. The award recognized his leadership in building the interdepartmental PPSM program, as well as his work in the undergraduate teaching lab. This award reflected his focus and passion for mentorship throughout his career; he was most proud of the PhD students from his lab that went on to be successful faculty in top institutions around the country.
Bob combined extraordinary intellect with remarkable humility. Despite his international stature, he remained approachable, generous with his time, and genuinely interested in everyone he met. Whether speaking with students, colleagues, Nobel laureates, or someone he had just met, he had a gift for making people feel respected, valued, and heard. As evidenced by the notes I received from you upon hearing the news of his death, Bob’s warmth, kindness, and quiet generosity left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Our thoughts are with Bob’s family, friends, colleagues, and the many former students whose lives and careers he helped shape. Plans are underway for a memorial service; details will be shared as they are finalized.
For those who wish to read more about Bob’s life and legacy, please see the tributes below: