Robert Q. Topper, Professor of Chemistry, The Cooper Union
Theoretical chemistry and chemical physics
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Education and professional experience
- Professor of
Chemistry,
School of Engineering,
The Cooper Union, 2009-present.
- Chair and Associate Professor,
Department of Chemistry, Medical Technology, and Physics,
Monmouth University, 2003-2009.
- Associate Professor of
Chemistry,
School of Engineering,
The Cooper Union, 1999 - 2003.
- Assistant Professor of
Chemistry,
School of Engineering,
The Cooper Union, 1993 - 1998.
-
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Department of Chemistry,
University of Rhode Island,
1992-1993.
-
Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Department of Chemistry
and
Minnesota Supercomputer Institute,
University of Minnesota, 1990-1992.
-
Ph.D.,
Chemistry,
Yale University, 1990;
M.S., M.Phil., Physical Chemistry, Yale University, 1989.
- B.S.,
Physics and
Chemistry,
Florida State University, 1986.
- Instructor, Tutor and Computer-Aided Instruction Coordinator,
Department of Mathematics,
Florida State University,
1983-1986.
Research interests and methods
First-principles computation of properties of
materials, atomic and molecular nanoclusters, superheated gases and
biomolecules.
Applications of computational molecular modeling
and quantum chemistry to
structure predictions of covalent DNA-carcinogen
and nucleotide-carcinogen complexes.
Order-disorder and structural phase transitions
of nanoclusters and
inorganic materials.
Fourier path-integral Monte Carlo calculations of
molecular free energies in the combustion regime.
New techniques and applications of
Monte Carlo methods, path integrals,
molecular dynamics and chaos theory.
Kinetics and dynamics of isomerization reactions.
Innovations in physical and general chemistry instruction vis. the
engineering curriculum.
We're fascinated by the nanocrystallites of the ammonium halides, particularly NH4Cl. Wiki
We are also interested in biochemical damage of DNA.
Wiki
Here's a chunk of bismuth ore, which condenses as it melts (like water). How cool is that? Wiki
Courses Taught/Offered:
- General Chemistry
(Ch 110)
- General Chemistry Laboratory
(Ch 111)
- Physical Principles of Chemistry
(Ch 160)
- Physical Chemistry I
(Ch 261)
- Physical Chemistry II
(Ch 262)
- Advanced Physical Chemistry
(Ch 363) (*)
- Inorganic Chemistry
(Ch 370) (*)
- Selected Problems in Chemistry
(Ch 380) (*)
- Research Problem I-VIII
(Ch 391-Ch398) (*)
- Mechanical Engineering Projects
(ME 163) (*)
- Capstone Senior ME Design
(ME 164) (*)
- Thesis/Project
(ChE 499) (*)
- (*) indicates that I only teach the course upon students' request.
Publications
(reprints available on request)
Organizations
-
Alpha Chi Sigma
- Gamma Beta Chapter at
Florida State University
- American Chemical Society
- Biophysical Subdivision of ACS
- Computers in Chemistry Division of ACS
- Physical Chemistry Division of ACS
- Theoretical Chemistry Subdivision of ACS
- American Physical Society
- NEWTON BBS Ask-A-Scientist
at
Argonne National Laboratory
- Order of the Engineer
Address
Prof. Robert Topper
Department of Chemistry
The Cooper Union
41 Cooper Square
New York, NY 10003
*t&o!p#p$e%r^a&t*cooper.edu (look carefully; spelled weirdly to defeat spambots)
Some Other Pages I Maintain: