Publications

This page lists my peer-reviewed articles, preprints, and other research outputs in quantum chemistry, machine learning, molecular dynamics, and high-performance computing. These works represent my contributions to developing new methods and applying computational approaches to challenging problems in physical and computational science.

"GPU-Accelerated On-​the-fly Nonadiabatic Semiclassical Dynamics”

Christopher A. Myers, Ken Miyazaki, Thomas Trepl , Christine M. Isborn, Nandini Ananth 

The Journal of Chemical Physics 161(8): 084114, 2024.

Developed a GPU-parallelized framework "PySCES") for simulating ultrafast photochemical reactions, enabling large-scale, high-throughput modeling of excited-state charge transfer in realistic materials with major runtime reductions.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Nonadiabatic semiclassical dynamics; GPU/HPC parallelization & workflow design; Python-based scientific software engineering.

"Axial H-Bonding Solvent Controls Inhomogeneous Spectral Broadening, While Peripheral H-Bonding Solvent Controls Vibronic Broadening: Cresyl Violet in Methanol"

Christopher A. Myers, Shao-Yu Lu; Sapana Shedge, Arthur Pyuskulyan, Katherine Donahoe, Ajay Khanna, Liang Shi, Christine M. Isborn

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 128(23): 5685–5699, 2024. 

Revealed how different hydrogen-bonding environments directly influence optical line-shapes in solvated dyes,  offering a pathway to better predicting solvent effects in optical spectroscopy.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Quantum chemistry/QM/MM excited-state modeling; molecular dynamics & Fourier spectral analysis; hydrogen-bond network interpretation & data visualization.

"Aggregation in Aqueous Solutions of 2-(Tetrafluoro(trifluoromethyl)-λ⁶-sulfanyl-ethan-1-ol (CF₃SF₄-ethanol)): A Comparison with Aqueous Trifluoroethanol and Hexafluoroisopropanol Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Dynamic Light Scattering Experiments"

Samadrita Biswas, Simi Kaur, Christopher A. Myers, Alan A. Chen, John T. Welch 

ACS Omega 8(33): 30037–30047, 2023

Combined MD simulations and DLS experiments to uncover that the novel CF₃SF₄-ethanol aggregates at substantially lower concentrations compared to conventional fluorinated solvents—demonstrating its potential as an environmentally benign yet highly effective green solvent for stabilizing biomolecules and enhancing formulation strategies.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Molecular dynamics modeling, DFT-based force-field parameterization, solvent aggregation analysis, translating computational insight into greener materials and process design.

"​ A Fluctuating Density Energy Model for RNA Nucleobase Interactions"

Christopher A. Myers, Alan A. Chen

ChemRxiv (preprint), posted March 23, 2023 

Introduces a next-generation energy model that replaces conventional fixed-charge force fields with a site‑centered density representation – capturing charge penetration effects in RNA interactions to enable more accurate and scalable biomolecular simulations, offering a robust foundation for improved force fields in biotech and drug-discovery pipelines. 

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Force field innovation, electrostatics modeling beyond fixed-partial-charge approaches, hybrid QM-inspired model development, scalable simulation strategy design for computational biology.

"Probing the Edges between Stability and Degradation of a Series of ZnSe-Based Layered Hybrid Semiconductors"

Mengwen Yan, Christopher A. Myers, Gregory M. John, Vincent E. Meyers, Alan A. Chen; Jeremy I. Feldblyum

Advanced Materials Interfaces 9: 2200347, 2022

Combined experiment and simulation to identify chemical pathways that drive environmental degradation in hybrid semiconductors, informing strategies for longer-lasting photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Sample text. Click to select the Text Element.

"Challenges with Simulating Modified RNA: Insights into Role and Reciprocity of Experimental and Computational Approaches"

Rebecca J. D’Esposito, Christopher A. Myers, Alan A. Chen, Sweta Vangaveti 

Genes (Basel) 13(3): 540, 2022

Evaluated how molecular dynamics and experimental data can be combined to better understand RNA modifications, with implications for designing therapeutics targeting RNA structure and function.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Biomolecular simulation, force field assessment, validation against experimental datasets, workflow optimization.

"CoSIMS: An Optimized Trajectory-Based Collision Simulator for Ion Mobility Spectrometry"

Christopher A. Myers, Rebecca J. D’Esposito, Daniele Fabris, Srivathsan V. Ranganathan, Alan A. Chen 

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 123(20): 4347–4357, 2019

Created an OpenMP parallelized simulator for ion mobility spectrometry - mass spectrometry experiments, enabling rapid analysis of molecular collision cross-sections for complex chemical and biological systems.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Algorithm design, parallel computing, computational mass spectrometry, performance engineering, interdisciplinary experimental–computational research.

"Complex Thermodynamic Behavior of Single-Stranded Nucleic Acid Adsorption to Graphene Surfaces"

Srivathsan V. Ranganathan, Ken Halvorsen, Christopher A. Myers, Neil M. Robertson, Mehmet V. Yigit, Alan A. Chen 

Langmuir 32(24): 6028–6034, 2016

Quantified how single-stranded DNA interacts with graphene surfaces, guiding the engineering of next-generation biosensors and nanomaterial-based diagnostics.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Thermodynamics modeling, data analysis, interdisciplinary experimental–computational research, force-field development

"Turning Density Functional Theory Calculations into Molecular Mechanics Simulations: Establishing the Fluctuating Density Model for RNA Nucleobases"

Christopher A. Myers 

University at Albany, State University of New York, Department of Physics, December 1, 2022

Developed a hybrid method that bridges DFT-level accuracy and classical molecular mechanics to model RNA nucleobase behavior at scale – enabling precise yet computationally efficient simulations tailored to high-throughput screening in biotech and pharmaceutical research.

Demonstrated Skills and ​ Abilities

Quantum chemistry (DFT), force-field development, QM/MM hybrid methodology design, scaling biomolecular simulation workflows for industrial R&D.