Topper Group Members and Alumni

I am grateful to have learned from, worked with / for, and published with so many terrific students and colleagues.

Current Student Researchers:

Inhee Lee, ChE [nanoparticles] Fall 2026-present
Sikder Sakhawat, ChE [nanoparticles] Fall 2026-present
Rena Sturm, ChE [nanoparticles] Spring 2026-present

Current Visiting Scholars and Associates:

Priva Halpert, ChE 2026 [nanoparticles] Spring 2025-present. Currently at Univ. of Pennsylvania.
Elliot Topper, research associate [Visual TransRot] B.S. The College of New Jersey.
Steven Topper, research associate [TransRot, machine learning] B.S. Univ. of South Carolina.

Past Collaborations:

Miguel Amat, research associate (2022-2024) and undergrad researcher, ChE 2001. Ph.D. U. Mass-Amherst
David Freeman, University of Rhode Island
Song Ling, University of California-San Francisco
Mark Tuckerman, New York University
Donald Truhlar, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

1993-2003 and 2009-present Group Alumni (Cooper Union)

Graduate Researchers at Cooper Union

Garrett Bauer, ChE [Spartan-JMC, ECCC9, and bismuth nanoclusters].
Denise Bergin, ChE, M, Eng; J.D. Univ. California - Berkeley. [grad - Spartan-JMC; undergrad - nanoclusters]
Vlad Ciocoi, ChE [grad- AAF-DNA; undergrad - fluoride nanoclusters] M.Eng.
Gillian Frost, ChE 2022, MEng. 2024 [fullerene nanoparticles].
Timothy Isgro, ChE, M.Eng. [grad - AAF, ECCC8; undergrad - quantum steam tables] Ph.D. Illinois (physics).
Ryan Jaipersaud, ChE 2018; M.Eng. 2020 [machine learning].
Andrew Kim, ChE, MEng [grad - quantum electrochemistry, undergrad - software engineering] 2022-2025.
Joseph Kirtland, ChE [grad and undergrad - path integrals] Ph.D. Cornell (physics).
Anna Joselle Lomboy, ChE, M.Eng. 2020. [grad - solvated NH4NO3 nanoclusters; undergrad - NH4F clusters].
Steven Neuhaus, ChE [grad - nanomaterials; jointly with Marcus Lay]. Ph.D. Penn (Materials Eng).
Byron X. Smith, ChE 2013 [quantum-chemical magwalking].
Armaan Thapar, ChE 2018 M. Eng 2019. [simulated annealing in Python].

Undergraduate Researchers at Cooper Union

Eugene Agichtein, BSE [molecular clusters; global optimization], Ph.D. Columbia U. Professor of Comp. Sci. at Emory U.
Abdullah Ali, EE 2025 / MEng [path integrals] 2023-2025.
Jane Atkinson Gajwani, ChE, M.Eng. [sulfide chemistry].
Jean Barmash, BSE [global optimization]
John Biswakarma, BSE [ammonium sulfate and bromide nanoclusters]. M.S. Minnesota; graduate work at Northeastern.
Christine Boelke, ChE [AAF-DNA and BAP-DNA].
Christopher Briscoe, BSE [quantum steam tables] Ph.D. CUNY (physics).
Michael Capuzzi, CE [bismuth]. M.S. UC-Berkeley, MBA and MS, MIT.
Gerardo Cardone, EE [bismuth] M.B.A. Northwestern.
Abraham Chung, ChE [enantioselectivity].
Chuen Lam (Jim) Chan, BSE [reaction mechanisms - with Bove].
Hiului Lana Chan, ChE [AAF-DNA] Ph.D. Yale U (chem eng).
Kimberly Chung, ChE [AAF-DNA and pHIP-DNA] Ph.D. U. Delaware (Chem E).
Dominic Coluccio, BSE [bismuth; ECCC7] M.S. NYU (computer sci); M.S. NYU (mathematics - finance).
Alexandra M. Deaconescu , ChE [bismuth] Ph.D. Rockefeller (biochemistry).
John de la Parra, Jr., BSE [bismuth] - Ph.D. Northeastern University (chemistry).
Kunmi Demuren, ChE, M.Eng. [bismuth]
Poorna Dutta, ChE 22 [DNA damage]
Leonid Grinberg, EE, M.Eng. [As/Sb/Bi clusters; global opt]
Raquibul Hannan, NYU Chemistry [AAF-DNA] M.D./Ph.D. SUNY Downstate.
Ubaidullah Hassan, ChE [nanoparticles] 2022-2024.
Sophie Jaro, EE, M.Eng. (EE), [grad - nanoparticles]. 2022.
George Ho, BSE 2019 [nanoparticles].
Jo Kang, ChE [AAF]
Tina Kiang, ChE [AAF-DNA] Ph.D. Johns Hopkins (biomedical eng).
Rachel Klar, ChE 2019 [ammonium halide nanoparticles]
Anna Konvicka, EE 2023 [undergrad - mag-walk optimization].
Sarah Kopel-Fink, ChE 2002 [Monte Carlo methods]. J.D., St. Johns U.
Heather Kulik, ChE [environmental carcinogens] Ph.D. MIT (materials eng). Professor at MIT.
Joshua Kritzer, ChE [bismuth] Ph.D. Yale (chemistry). Professor at Tufts University.
Keirnan LaMarche, ChE [bismuth; Monte Carlo methods] Ph.D. Rutgers (chemical eng).
Thomas Larrabee, ChE [computing - with Bove] Ph.D. Penn State (chemistry).
Sangjoon (Bob) Lee, ChE [MC and atmospheric nanoparticles], 2022-2023.
Brice Lee, ChE 2015 [enantioselectivity] M.S. Columbia U.
Keon Lee, ChE [bismuth]
Darren Louie, ChE [environmental carcinogens and toxins] Master's degrees from NYU, Pacific College.
Renee Ma, ChE [nanoparticles] 2024-2025.
Isaac Markus, ChE [NH4Cl nanoclusters; global optimization] Ph.D. U-C Berkeley (materials eng).
Sally Mikhail, ME [bismuth] Ph.D. Ohio State (physics) Faculty at Indiana U-Purdue U Ft Wayne.
Anthony Mrockzowski, BSE [bismuth] Ph.D. Columbia (physics)
Jodie Mueller, ChE [phase transitions in NH4Cl]
Kenneth Mui, ChE [bismuth, ECCC8, ECCC9] M.Eng. Cooper Union.
Neha Nichakawade, ChE [atmospheric nanoparticles]. 2022.
Vijay Raj, ChE [AAF and FAAF] D.O. Rowan University.
Niny Z. Rao, ChE [AMBER] Ph.D. Florida State U. (chemistry) Prof at Thomas Jefferson Univ.
Loni Rodriguez, ChE [environmental carcinogens] DDS SUNY-Buffalo
Antonina Roll-Mecak, ChE [materials] Ph.D. Rockefeller.
Ruben Savizky, ChE [reaction mechanisms - with Bove] Ph.D. Yale (chemistry); Associate Dean of Engineering, Cooper Union.
Saimon Sharif, ChE [neurotransmitters].
Andrew Sweeney, ChE [acid rain] .
Paul Sweeney, ChE [NH4Cl nanoclusters; global optimization] M.D. Tufts.
Daniel To, ChE [environmental carcinogens] Ph.D. NJIT (chemical eng).
Francis Torres, ChE [NH4Cl; water; global opt methods]
Guowei Yu, ChE [global opt methods] M.Eng. Rutgers University.
Wentao Zhang, ChE [enantioselectivity] M.S. Columbia University.

2003-2009 Undergraduate Researchers at Monmouth University

John Brown, Chemistry [AAF and FAAF] M.D. Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.
William Feldmann, Chemistry / Chemical Physics [NH4Cl nanoclusters]
Nikhil K. Jain, Biology [AAF and FAAF] M.D./M.B.A. (Drexel).
Mourin (Khaleel) Thomas, Biology [AAF and FAAF] J.D. (Drexel).
Andrea Leotti Messina, Chemistry [AAF].
Jared Pienkos, Chemistry, Hamilton College [HF clusters] Ph.D. U of Virginia (chemistry). Associate Prof. of Chemistry at UT-Chattanooga.
George Roesch, Chemistry [AAF].
Catharine Russamano, Mathematics 2006 [NH4Cl].

High School Student Researchers (Names are missing for 47 other high school students advised at Cooper Union 1994-2003 through the CU High School Summer Research Program, due to a records loss.)

Destin Jumelle-y-Picokens, NIH High School Research Intern at U of Minnesota [potential energy surfaces]
Nihal Dayal, REAP Summer High School Research Intern at Monmouth University [AAF and FAAF] .
Grace Lee, REAP Summer High School Research Intern at Monmouth University [NH4Cl nanoclusters]
Leachien Ricks, CUSRIP High School Research Intern 2000 [DNA damage]
Joseph Safdieh, CUSRIP High School Research Intern 2000 [gas-phase SN2 reactions]
William Wang, visiting research student, Cooper Union; Summer 2023-Fall 2024 [nanoparticles]. Student at Northwestern University.

Erdos numbers are kind of fun. They are counted by the number of academic connectors which separate two people on the "family tree" of advisors, students and co-authors. Erdos was famous for his collaborations, which is why mathematicians like to calculate their own Erdos number.

Last time I checked (various sources, some of which aren't available now sadly), I have

a Dirac number of 7 (and as my students know, I met Dirac and his wife once as an undergrad)
an Erdos number of 6
a Feynman number of 5
a (Roald) Hoffman number of 5
a Pauling number of 3
a Bohr number of 4
a Schroedinger number of 4
a Lennard-Jones number of 4
a Sommerfeld number of 4
a G.N. Lewis number of 3
and a Karplus number of 2

So if you have ever published a paper with me, you have an Erdos number of no greater than 7, and so forth. Of course, everyone who has ever worked for me also has made other connections since and so these numbers may have changed!

Here's my link to the Chemistry Tree.

THE ALBERT NERKEN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING