Yael Cohen is a PhD student in physics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, supervised by Prof. Michael Moshe. She develops geometric frameworks to understand how materials organize and deform, focusing on the interplay between geometry and mechanics. Interestingly, these ideas are far from abstract and can be observed in natural and everyday phenomena– from growing plants and biological systems to knitted fabrics and thin sheets of paper.

Yael Cohen completed her B.Sc. in physics and mathematics and her M.Sc. in physics at the Hebrew University, both with honors. Her intellectual motivations combine a general enjoyment of puzzle solving and a fascination with the fundamental questions of physics, the elegant structure of mathematics, and their connection to broader philosophical questions. During the period between her studies, she worked as an algorithm developer at Mobileye. This followed earlier employment as a tour guide in Jerusalem, where she explored history and archaeology.