Robert Q. Topper

Robert Q. Topper is a Professor of Chemistry at The Cooper Union's Albert Nerken School of Engineering. He holds a B.S. in Physics and Chemistry from Florida State University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. His research focuses on computational and theoretical chemistry, including nanoscience, material science, and biophysics, with emphasis on Monte Carlo methods, machine learning, and quantum mechanics. He has mentored over 115 students and published extensively in top journals like Physical Review Letters and the Journal of Chemical Physics.

Dr. Topper’s academic journey includes roles as Department Chair at Monmouth University and a visiting researcher at NYU. He has organized 5 international conferences and delivered 23 invited seminars. His awards include the 2025 Teaching Award from the New York American Chemical Society and two recognitions on Cooper Union’s 'Student’s List.'

Teaching spans general, physical, and theoretical chemistry at all academic levels. He collaborates with researchers globally, including NYU’s Tuckerman group. His work bridges theory and experiment, addressing environmental and material challenges. Beyond academia, he volunteers with the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra and enjoys music, hiking, and graphic novels.

Research highlights include studies on ammonium nitrate nanoparticles, atmospheric aerosols, and computational methods for battery research. He leads a lab advancing machine learning applications in molecular dynamics, with recent grants for next-gen battery materials development.