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
Manidhar Aduri
PhD Candidate
Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Deep Learning
maduri@islander.tamucc.edu
Manidhar holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and has since turned his focus toward applying deep learning to real-world environmental problems. His work has equipped him with skills in dataset validation, computer vision pipeline design, and rigorous model evaluation. Joining Dr. Nasrin's lab gave him the opportunity to put machine learning to work on a problem with direct environmental impact identifying micro and nanoplastic polymer types straight from microscope imagery, with the goal of cutting down how often the lab needs to rely on costly Raman and SERS spectroscopy.
Brittain Haden
Master's Student
Nanoparticles, Plasmonics, Cancer Therapy
bhaden@islander.tamucc.edu
Brittain Haden holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Chemistry. During her undergraduate studies, she spent one and a half years conducting research in Dr. Nasrin Hooshmand’s lab, developing experience in nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, including the fabrication of gold nanoparticles. During this time, she explored gold nanoparticle morphology and its relationship to cancer photothermal therapy. Her current work continues to explore how nanomaterials can be designed and characterized for potential applications in cancer treatment and immunological research.
Sai Priya Ramini
Ph.D Student
AI, Deep Learning, ML, Nanoparticles and Environmental Research
sramini@islander.tamucc.edu
Sai Priya Ramini holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and currently is a Ph.D. student in Coastal and Marine System Science at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. Her research interests focus on applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and computer vision techniques to scientific and environmental research. Her current research explores AI-assisted analysis of nanomaterials and nanoparticle characterization using experimental data such as microscopy images and spectral information. She also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, supporting undergraduate chemistry laboratory courses.
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.
Alumni
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.
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.