Faculty
Dr. Nasrin Hooshmand
Principal Investigator
Nanoplasmonics, Colloid Chemistry, Light-Matter Interaction
nasrin.hooshmand@tamucc.edu
Office: CS 250
Dr. Nasrin Hooshmand is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi (TAMUCC), where she joined the faculty in 2024. She earned her M.Sc and Ph.D. in physical chemistry and previously served as a Principal Research Scientist in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Tech. Dr. Hooshmand is recognized for her work on the application of colloid chemistry to the field of nanoplasmonics. Her research interests center on light-matter interaction at the nanoscale, with the goal of developing novel solutions for chemical and biological sensing, energy harvesting, nanomedicine, and healthcare applications. Her significant contributions to research, teaching, and leadership have earned her several awards, including the Research Faculty–Community Leadership Impact Award (2023), the Research Faculty Teaching Fellow Award (2021), recognition as a leading Woman@Tech (2021), and inclusion in Georgia Tech's 2020 Faces of Inclusive Excellence publication.
Graduate Students
Mohamad Sadegh Mousavi-Kiasary
PhD Student
Cancer Biology, Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine
After earning his DVM and MPH degrees, Mohamad Sadegh dedicated his career to cancer research at the University of Tehran. His internships and extensive research experience in cancer research equipped him with valuable skills including cell and organoid culture, cancer animal models, animal surgery, drug delivery systems, cancer biology, and immunotherapy. Joining Dr. Hooshmand's lab gives him a great opportunity to utilize the advancements in chemistry to achieve his ultimate goal — to stand at the forefront of the battle against cancer.
Ghazal Basirinia
PhD Student
Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy, Targeted Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine
Ghazal holds an MSc in Genetics, with thesis research focused on the BDNF gene in patients with gastric cancer, which sparked her deep interest in cancer biology. Motivated by this experience, she pursued a PhD continuing in the field of cancer research. Her current doctoral work focuses on the application of nanoparticles in cancer therapy, particularly in developing targeted drug delivery systems. Through this work, she has also become increasingly interested in designing nanomaterials for various biomedical applications. Her academic and research interests are strongly rooted in nanomedicine and nanotechnology, with the goal of advancing more precise, effective, and personalized therapeutic strategies.
Undergraduate Students
John Ramirez
Undergraduate Researcher
Nanoparticles, Plasmonics
John Ramirez is a graduate researcher in Dr. Hooshmand's lab at TAMUCC, working on nanoparticle-based research in the areas of plasmonics and nanomedicine.
Brittain Haden
Undergraduate Researcher
Nanoparticles, Plasmonics
Brittain Haden is a graduate researcher in Dr. Hooshmand's lab at TAMUCC, contributing to ongoing nanoparticle and plasmonic research projects.
Alumni
Rogelio Pena
Undergraduate Researcher
Nuclear Engineering, Nanoparticles for Cancer Research
roena30@islander.tamucc.edu
Rogelio is an undergraduate student majoring in Nuclear Engineering at TAMUCC. In Dr. Hooshmand's lab he explores the use of nanoparticles for cancer research, bringing an engineering perspective to the synthesis and characterization of therapeutic nanomaterials.
Thomas Krozel
Undergraduate Researcher
Electrical Engineering, Sensor-Integrated Systems
tkrozel@islander.tamucc.edu
Thomas is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at TAMUCC. His work in the lab centers on integrating plasmonic sensors into functional electronic devices, including a sensor-integrated steering wheel project.
Ethan Hughes
Undergraduate Researcher
Electrical Engineering, Embedded Electronics
ehughes2@islander.tamucc.edu
Ethan is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at TAMUCC. He contributes to the lab's work on embedded electronics and sensor integration, applying nanoplasmonic principles to practical measurement systems.
Owen Wrigley
Undergraduate Researcher
Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics and Power Systems
owrigley@islander.tamucc.edu
Owen is an undergraduate student in Electrical Engineering at TAMUCC. His research in the lab focuses on electromagnetic applications of plasmonic nanostructures, including their potential for enhancing solar panels and energy conversion devices.
How to Join
Interested in joining Dr. Hooshmand's research lab? We welcome inquiries from graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and potential postdoctoral fellows. Please send a brief email to Dr. Hooshmand at nasrin.hooshmand@tamucc.edu with your CV and research interests.