Dr. Topper is an expert in physical, computational, and theoretical chemistry who is known for the development of innovative quantum and classical molecular simulation methods for high-performance computing and analysis and for his contributions to the theory of classical nonlinear dynamics. He and his students study intermolecular forces and how they control the thermal and chemical properties of surfaces, clusters and nanoparticles.  

He received a B.S. in physics and chemistry from Florida State University and earned a Ph.D. in theoretical chemistry from Yale University.  He then worked for two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota and one year at the University of Rhode Island before joining the Cooper Union in 1993. Dr. Topper has also chaired the Department of Chemistry and Physics at Monmouth University and is currently Chair of Chemistry at the Cooper Union.  

Topper ‘s research is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary and has been presented at numerous national and international scientific conferences. His papers and review articles are published in Physical Review Letters, the Journal of Chemical Physics, the Journal of Physical Chemistry A&B, Reviews in Computational Chemistry, and Advances in Chemical Physics. 

At Cooper Union, Topper teaches lecture and laboratory courses at the freshman, junior, senior, and graduate levels in general, physical, theoretical, and inorganic chemistry as well as courses in research and engineering design projects. He is an avid amateur musician and songwriter who enjoys performing for friends and family as well as at fundraisers and community events. He also enjoys graphic novels, animation, games of all kinds, and hiking and traveling with family.