Miriam Cohen initiated and established the specialized track in Bioinformatics within the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Ben-Gurion University in 1996. A specialist in Hopf algebras and quantum groups, she navigated a career that bridged advanced theoretical research with administrative leadership and community education projects across Israel throughout the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
Academic Formation and Early Career
Born in 1941 in Ramat Gan, Cohen pursued her early education before completing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with high honors from California State University. She subsequently obtained a Master of Science from UCLA. Upon returning to Israel, she earned her Ph.D. at Tel Aviv University, conducting research under the supervision of Israel Nathan Herstein and A.A. Klein. Her academic trajectory included visiting positions at the University of Southern California, UCLA, and the Mathematics Institute of Fudan University in Shanghai.
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Cohen joined the faculty of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where she held various leadership roles. She chaired the Mathematics and Computer Science Department from 1993 to 1995. Between 1998 and 2002, she served as the elected dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, marking the first time a woman held this position in Israel. In 2001, she founded the Center of Advanced Studies in Mathematics at the university, serving as its director starting in June 2003.
Professional Service and Recognition
Her contributions to the field included serving as President of the Israel Mathematical Union from 1992 to 1994. She acted as an associate editor for the journal Communications in Algebra and participated in numerous scientific committees, including those for the Moshe Flato Colloquia and the European Mathematical Society. In 2017, she was elected as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society for her work on Hopf algebras and representations.
Community Engagement and Outreach
Living in the development town of Yeruham for ten years starting in 1978, Cohen engaged in local educational initiatives. She founded computer summer camps in 1980 and served as a volunteer high school mathematics teacher. Her public service extended to the national level as a member of the Ministry of Education's Committee on Mathematics and the National Committee on the Information Technology Society.
Fast facts
- Born: 1941, Ramat Gan
- Education: Tel Aviv University
- Field: Hopf algebras, quantum groups, Noncommutative rings
- Notable role: Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences, BGU
- Fellowship: American Mathematical Society (2017)
- Professional society: Israel Mathematical Union (President 1992-1994)
Questions readers ask
What were the primary areas of research for Miriam Cohen?
Her work focused on Hopf algebras, quantum groups, and noncommutative rings.
Did Cohen hold administrative roles in academia?
Yes, she served as the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Ben-Gurion University and chaired the Mathematics and Computer Science Department.
Achievements
- Held posts at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
- Fields: mathematics
