Steven Lopez

Steven Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Northeastern University, leading the Lopez group. His research focuses on integrating quantum mechanical calculations with machine learning to discover advanced organic materials for renewable energy and photomedicine applications.

• Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
• University: Northeastern University

The Lopez group specializes in computational approaches to address challenges in organic solar cells and photodynamic therapy (PDT). They employ multiconfigurational photodynamics and molecular dynamics simulations to study:

• Reaction mechanisms of organic reactions (C–H activation, strained ring opening)
• Photophysical properties of organic materials
• Crystallinity and interfacial disorder in organic semiconductors
• High-throughput virtual screening of PDT drug candidates

Their work bridges quantum chemistry and materials science, with applications in:

• Sustainable photocatalysis
• Organic electronics
• Visible/near-IR light-responsive materials
• Experiment-theory feedback loops for accelerated discovery

Professor Lopez's publications span molecular design, reaction stereoselectivity, and organic semiconductor modeling, demonstrating expertise in both fundamental theory and applied materials development.