Khemet Calnek is a scientist and chemistry technician from New Rochelle, NY. Khemet holds a BA in Chemistry with a minor in Africana Studies from Pomona College in Claremont, CA. 

Since then, he has worked in both industrial and academic research laboratories in New York City specializing in environmental analysis. Before joining Cooper, he was a research scientist at New York University College of Dentistry observing the associations between metals and non-metals in food, beverages, and environmental water and their implications for the environment and public health issues, such as neurodegenerative diseases. 

“I am excited to join an academic institution, such as the Albert Nerken School of Engineering, with a rich history of nurturing excellence in STEM. The Cooper Union’s emphasis on developing students’ creativity in order to solve real-life problems in the 21st century fits accordingly with my personal philosophy. I believe that in order to solve contemporary issues, we must break out of existing paradigms and engage in critical discourse with different disciplines, perspectives, and experiences. Cooper’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as their academic vision, perfectly encapsulates this. I look forward to working and collaborating with the students, faculty, and staff of The Cooper Union to add to its already rich legacy!”