Jonathan D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, completing two majors: Biology and Philosophy. In 1983, he received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he began his research career with a NIMH training fellowship and pursued his residency at Stanford University.

In 1990, Cohen earned his Ph.D in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. In 1989 he was appointed to the faculty in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, where he continues to hold an appointment as Full Professor. In 1991 he was also appointed as Assistant Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon. In 1998 he moved to Princeton University, as a Professor of Psychology, where he is the Director of the Program in Neuroscience, and also founded and directs the Center for the Study of Brain, Mind and Behavior.

Research in Cohen's laboratory helped pioneer the use of both computational modeling and modern functional brain imaging methods in the study of cognitive control and its disturbance in schizophrenia. Recently, his work has expanded to examine the interaction between cognitive and emotion, and their influence on diverse psychological processes such as attention, decision making, and moral reasoning.

Cohen's work has resulted in over 150 scientific publications, numerous awards, and a regular schedule of invited lectureships at major universities and scientific organizations, both nationally and internationally.