Robert Q. Topper

Robert Q. Topper is a distinguished academic in the field of chemistry, currently serving as Professor and Chair of Chemistry at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art since July 2009. Topper has extensive experience in various educational roles, including a sabbatical as a Visiting Research Professor at New York University, focusing on machine learning, artificial intelligence, and biophysics. From July 2003 to June 2009, Topper led the Chemistry, Medical Technology, and Physics department at Monmouth University, significantly increasing enrollment in the chemistry major. Previous positions include Assistant and Associate Professor at The Cooper Union and postdoctoral research roles at the University of Rhode Island and the University of Minnesota, where Topper specialized in advanced Monte Carlo methods. Topper holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physical Chemistry from Yale University and a B.S. in Physics and Chemistry from Florida State University.