Grad Spotlight: Malachi Cohen

Malachi Cohen’s inspiration to enroll at Northwestern Engineering came from a marathon in Germany. There, in 2018, world-record time was achieved by the winner who wore specially designed shoes that gave an energy return with every step.

The race and its aftermath exposed Cohen to technology’s integral role in sports performance, compelling him to pursue the invention of equipment that breaks barriers.

“This passion led me to materials science and as I was looking at universities, I discovered that not only was Northwestern's program exceptional, but it was also where the discipline was founded,” Cohen said. “I knew then that this was the only place I wanted to be, and I am extremely thankful that everything worked out that way.”

Cohen, a former member of the Northwestern men’s swimming team who is graduating with a degree in materials science and engineering, spoke with the McCormick School of Engineering about balancing classes and the pool, courses that impacted his Northwestern experience, and his advice for current and future McCormick students.

How did the McCormick curriculum help build a balanced, whole-brain ecosystem around your studies in your major?

Whole-brain engineering is something that is unique to Northwestern. Often in job interviews I am asked what sets me apart from other candidates. When that question comes up, I am grateful for classes like Design Thinking and Communication which allow me to say communicating with others. There are a lot of brilliant engineers in the world, but not everyone is able to communicate technical ideas to a range of different people, and Northwestern is a place that taught me how to do that. I would also like to shout out MAT_SCI 318: Materials Selection, taught by Jonathan Emery, Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Associate Professor of Instruction. This class puts you in the real-world scenario of having to select more effective materials to solve a problem of your choosing. This was the first class that validated my decision of becoming a materials engineer, and I would not have had that without such an amazing professor.

How did you balance varsity swimming with the rigorous McCormick curriculum?

My first year was initially very tough. At a competitive school like Northwestern, it was difficult to adjust to the fact that, regardless of whether I had a midterm or a final the next days, I had to make sure I was at practice 20 hours each week. There came a point where I realized I was stretching myself too thin, and I had to make some hard decisions about what I wanted out of Northwestern. I decided there were two things that I wanted to excel at: being excellent in the pool and excellent in the classroom. That meant that I had to cut down on socializing with my friends and I had to stop attending some of the clubs I had joined. While this was difficult at the time, it allowed me to appreciate the things I was doing even more and has led to a lot of success both in and out of the pool.

What skills or knowledge did you learn in the undergraduate program that you think will stay with you for a lifetime?

The skill that will stick with me the most is not to delay the difficult conversations. I have spent a lot of time here doing research in the Sustainable Polymer Innovation laboratory run by Cécile Chazot, Julia Weertman Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. With this experience there have been many times as an undergraduate that I messed up an experiment, or I didn't know how to fix a problem. Every single time I have found going alone has wasted more time than having the courage to ask for help from a graduate student or my primary investigator. 

What's next?

At the moment, I am going to work in the semiconductor industry where I hope I can have an impact on the world around me. However, after some time in the field, I hope to go back to graduate school where I can gain the skills to invent products of the future.

What advice do you have for current and future Northwestern Engineering students?

While class is important, it shouldn't define your Northwestern experience. Make sure you can find a club or start a project that you are passionate about. The ability to build things and solve problems that add value to the world is just as important and it's always easier when you love what you are doing.

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of Q&As with graduating Northwestern Engineering students. Stay tuned for more reflections leading up to the June 15 Undergraduate Convocation.