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Professor Robert Q. Topper Receives Teaching Award from the New York American Chemical Society

POSTED ON: February 7, 2025

professor robert topper with his ACS award
Photo of Prof. Robert Q Topper and Dean Ruben Savizky
Presentation

Dr. Robert Q. Topper, professor of chemistry, received the 2024 Outstanding Four-Year Undergraduate College and University Chemistry Faculty Teaching Award at the New York American Chemical Society (NY ACS) Sectionwide Conference held at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. This award recognizes, encourages, and stimulates high-quality teaching and research at four-year colleges and universities with undergraduate programs within the NY ACS region.

The NY ACS serves as a dynamic hub for chemical professionals, fostering collaboration, innovation, and public engagement in the chemical sciences. With a mission to promote individual and professional excellence, NY ACS enhances interdisciplinary connections, advances scientific literacy, and supports career development. Through strategic initiatives, the section actively expands industry participation, integrates cutting-edge technology, and champions diversity in leadership. 

"I'm completely overwhelmed by this honor, and really appreciate the recognition this gives to the work that my students and I have done together over the years," say Dr. Topper. "This is the greatest city in the world, and it's a privilege to teach and work here, especially with the terrific colleagues I have the good fortune to work with here at Cooper Union," he adds.

Dr. Topper earned a B.S. in chemistry and physics at Florida State University, working with three different professors on undergraduate research. He completed a Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Yale University before postdoctoral work at University of Minnesota and University of Rhode Island. He joined Cooper Union in 1993.  His research work, which has included studies of nanoparticles, materials, damaged DNA, and polypeptides, has led to his mentorship of more than 120 undergraduate and high school research students. He teaches courses in general, physical, inorganic, computational, and environmental chemistry and coordinates the general chemistry lab. He also helps organize the free annual Virtual Winter School on Computational Chemistry.

 

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