Morris Cohen was an American metallurgist, who spent his entire career affiliated with MIT. He was born on November 27, 1911 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States. He graduated from his undergraduate degree in 1933, receiving his doctorate three years later, and was appointed assistant professor of metallurgy in 1937. He was appointed Professor of Physical Metallurgy in 1946, and an Institute Professor in 1975. He took emeritus status in 1982. He received numerous national and international awards and honors during his career. The National Medal of Science, this country's most prestigious scientific award, was presented to Cohen in 1976. He was awarded the Kyoto Prize, Japan's highest scientific honor for "contributions to human progress," in 1987. He died on May 27, 2005 in Swampscott, Massachusetts, United States