Athanassios Z. Panagiotopoulos

Athanassios Z. Panagiotopoulos is the Susan Dod Brown Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University. He holds joint affiliations with the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering and Princeton Materials Institute. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT (1986) and a Dipl. Eng. from the National Technical University of Athens (1982).

His research focuses on molecular simulation techniques for fluid and material properties, with emphasis on:

• Developing machine-learning potentials (e.g., Deep Potential MD) for materials prediction
• Electrolyte system behavior and salt crystallization mechanisms
• Phase transitions in disordered proteins and biological condensates
• Advanced Monte Carlo methods including Gibbs ensemble techniques

Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on integrating machine learning with molecular dynamics, improving force field accuracy for electrolytes, and modeling biological phase separation. His work consistently bridges fundamental theory with energy/environmental applications.

Major Scientific Honors:

• AIChE Alpha Chi Sigma Award (2024)
• National Academy of Engineering (2004) and American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2012)
• Prausnitz Award (1998), Colburn Award (1995)
• Presidential Young Investigator (1989)

He currently advises five graduate students and leads the Panagiotopoulos Group, which develops computational methods for complex materials problems. The group maintains active collaborations with experimental researchers including the Brangwynne lab on biological phase transitions.