THE ALBERT NERKEN SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Robert Q. Topper, Chair and Professor of Chemistry212.353.4378
robert.topper@cooper.edu
Faculty Bio
The Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry is awarded to the graduating senior with the best record in analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis. Prof. Spice served Cooper Union for 30 years as Professor of Chemistry [1884-1914] and also served as chair of Chemistry (1900-1914). This prize was established in 1919 with an initial gift of $200, and is the longest-running prize awarded by the Chemistry department.
The Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry is awarded to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average in chemistry courses taken at Cooper Union (including all courses required by the Chemical Engineering degree) and having the highest recommendation of the Chemistry faculty. Badin was a Cooper Union chemistry alumnus who went on to earn a Ph.D. at Princeton and then studied photosynthesis with Nobel laureate Melvin Calvin. Badin went on to work on many other aspects of pure and applied chemistry and chemical engineering throughout his career. He was an internationally recognized expert in combustion mechanisms. Incidentally, a different prize also named in honor of Badin is given each year to a graduate student in chemistry at Princeton University.
The Andrea Newmark Award for Excellence in First-Year Chemistry (previously the Cooper Union Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award, and before 2020, the CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award) recognizes students for their outstanding achievements and engagement in the study of chemistry during their first year at Cooper Union. Students must complete all three first-year courses in chemistry at Cooper Union (Ch 110, Ch 111, and Ch 161, 8.5 credits total), receive the highest recommendation of the faculty, and have completed all of this coursework during their first year of college. This award was renamed in 2024 and honors Prof. Newmark, a longtime member of the Chemistry department who taught all three courses. It is sponsored externally by an anonymous donor.
The American Institute of Chemists Student Award is awarded by the Chemistry faculty to a graduating senior majoring in chemical engineering, in recognition of demonstrated academic ability, leadership, and professional promise in chemistry. This award was first given by the Chemistry department at Cooper Union in 2013.
The John L. Bove' Organic Chemistry Achievement Award is awarded by the Chemistry faculty to the second-year student with the most outstanding record in Organic Chemistry I and II, as well as Organic Chemistry Laboratory. This award honors Prof. Bove', a longtime member of the Chemistry department who taught courses in organic chemistry, and was first given in 2022. The award is sponsored externally by the Bove’ family.
In addition to these awards, in some years the New York or Westchester sections of the American Chemical Society have sponsored a student prize; these are listed here as well.
2026
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Gabriella Carlos
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Michelle Liang
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Priva Halpert
Andrea Newmark Award for Excellence in First-Year Chemistry: Sachin Misra
John L. Bove' Organic Chemistry Achievement Award: Radu Varerean
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence (Chemistry): Eli Hicks
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence (Biochemistry): Otto Beer
2025
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Julian Lam
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Andrew Kim
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Kalvin Huang
Andrea Newmark Award for Excellence in First-Year Chemistry: Conor Andrews
John L. Bove' Organic Chemistry Achievement Award: Otto Beer
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence (Chemistry): Ubaidullah Hassan
2024
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Pavlos Koronakis
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Mohammed Sameen Islam
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Pavlos Koronakis
Cooper Union Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award: Rachel Lee
John L. Bove' Organic Chemistry Achievement Award: Isha Dave and Priya Halpert
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence (Chemistry): Mohammed Rhakib
2023
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Renata Ashapatov
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Xiao Lin
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Sangjoon Bob Lee
Cooper Union Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award: Gabriela Carlos
John L. Bove' Organic Chemistry Achievement Award: James Aravena and Kalvin Huang
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence (Chemistry): Sangjoon Bob Lee
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence (Biochemistry): Olivia S. Kim
2022
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Angela Huang
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Johnathan Dorotheos
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Sanjna Rao
Cooper Union Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award: Alexis Chung
John L. Bove' Organic Chemistry Achievement Award: Pavlos Koronakis
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence: Ibrahim Abusharkh
2021
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Michael Chan
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Eric Figueroa
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Jack Batson
Cooper Union Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award: Nada Shetewi and Kyle Wong
New York American Chemical Society Certificate of Excellence: Renata Ashapatov
2020
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Amy Pan
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Amy Pan
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Felipe Mapa
Cooper Union Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award: Renata Ashapatov
2019
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Austin Ginos
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Todd Ketchum
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Christina Byers
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Student Award: Poorna Dutta and Angela Huang
2018
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Derek Ni
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Tushar Nichakawade
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Kyle Lam
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Student Award: Michael Chan
2017
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Kristiana Kavo
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Grace Li
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Maureen Anyanwu
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Student Award: Weizhe Guo, Matthew Moulton, and Jason Sherman
2016
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Shoshanan Sigal Sabel
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Josephine Chen
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Christopher Panebianco
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Student Award: Lai Ge George Ho
2015
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Nicholas Mannarino
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: xxx xxx
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Vlad Ciocoi
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Student Award: Christopher Lastihenos
Westchester Chemical Society Freshman Student Achievement Award: Kyle Lam
2014
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Joshua Mayourian
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: xxx xxx
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Robert Brumer
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: Kristiana Kavo
2013
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: xxx xxx
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Byron X. Smith
American Institute of Chemists Student Award: Lisa Liu
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: Alexa Orrico, Vishnu Narayanan and Christopher Panebianco
2012
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: xxx xxx
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: xxx xxx
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: xxxx xxx
2011
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Herman Nikolayevskiy
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Yelena Ilin
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: Kristof Toth
2010
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: xxx xxx
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: xxx xxx
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: Andrew Leader
2009
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: xxx xxx
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Jung Park
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: xxx xxx
2004
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Heather Kulik
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Heather Kulik
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: xxx xxx
2002
Elmer J. Badin Award in Chemistry: Malancha Gupta
Robert Spice Fund Prize in Analytical Chemistry: xxx xxx
CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Award: xxx xxx
Last updated July 20, 2026.