Jose L. Lopez

Jose L. Lopez is an Associate Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, USA. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, New Jersey in 2000, an M.S. in Physics in 2003 and a Ph.D. in Physics in 2006 from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 2005, he returned to Saint Peter’s University, as an Assistant Professor of Physics. During his professorship at Saint Peter’s, he was co-founder of the Department of Applied Science & Technology in 2008. In 2009, he was the founder and the director of the Center for Microplasma Science & Technology (CMST) which is the United States Congressional designated National Center of Excellence in the scientific study of microplasmas. In 2011, Professor Lopez joined the faculty of Seton Hall University as a member of the Department of Physics where he founded the Laboratory of Electrophysics and Atmospheric Plasmas (LEAP). He is the Director of LEAP, whose research group studies, develops, and applies a wide range of theoretical and experimental techniques to understand, predict, and design novel electron-driven processes to generate plasmas with applications in lighting, energy conversion, materials modification, and in environmental and clean water technologies. Professor Lopez’s research has led to the development of various novel environmental remediation technologies, which use atmospheric and higher pressure plasmas to clean and remove contamination in air and water. His research with ozone generation processes using microplasmas has led to substantial increased performance and optimization of large-scale industrial ozone generators used in municipal water treatment facilities all over the world. His applied and basic scientific investigations have garnered funding of over $4 million from various sources such as the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF), Army Office Research (ARO), National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) along with various industrial partners and private research foundations. He is the author of more than 30 scientific publications including the book “Complex Plasmas – Scientific Challenges and Technological Applications”. Professor Lopez is furthermore a highly acclaimed science communicator to broadcast mass media where he has served as science expert to various local, national, and international news organizations such as NJ News, MSNBC and Fox News. He additionally served as the science and technology correspondent to the Emmy award-winning news panel discussion television series, Fresh Outlook. The recipient of various awards and distinctions throughout his career, Professor Lopez has been nationally honored for his contributions to the United States of America by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He was recognized in 2012 by Inside Jersey of the New Jersey Star-Ledger and NJ.com as one of the Top 20 Biggest Brains in New Jersey, whose exceptional intellect are changing the world. Professor Lopez served as the General Chair and head organizer of the 2017 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS 2017) held from May 21-25, 2017 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. Aside from his scholarly and educational outreach work, Professor Lopez is very involved at the local and national level with the American Institute of Physics organization, the Society of Physics Students (SPS) where he has served as Chapter Advisor at both the Saint Peter’s University and Seton Hall University, having been nominated seven times for Outstanding Chapter Advisor. Professor Lopez also served six years from 2011-2017 as the SPS Zone 3 Councilor representing Delaware, New Jersey, and most of Pennsylvania on the SPS National Council.