López began studying at the University of Illinois in 1976. He earned a B.S. in Physics in 1980. As a student, he worked in the Physics Department. He helped with demonstrations and shows. He also wrote articles for the school's newspaper. He won a National Science Foundation minority graduate fellowship and money for school. He used the money to study at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In 1984, he earned his Master's and in 1986 a Ph.D.