Members

PI Maren Mossman

Title: Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Physics
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Office: SCST 281

Dr. Mossman joined USD in Fall 2020 as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Physics after completing her BS (2012), Masters (2016), and PhD (2019) in Physics at Washington State University (WSU). In graduate school, Dr. Mossman was an active member of the graduate community, serving as a graduate senator, lead grant writer for the graduate student physics club, president of the floor hockey club, founder of the Physicists for Inclusion in Science club. At USD, she has notably chaired the 2024 CUWiP meeting at USD, run the USD Physics Identity Program (2021-2025), and serves in the chair line of the APS CU*iP National Organizing Committee between 2025-2027. When she is not busy at work, she enjoys spending time in her make-shift garden, taking her kids to the Zoo, and playing Pokemon Go with her husband, the "other" Dr. Mossman.

In addition to being an enthusiastic experimentalist, she is an avid coffee drinker, runner, and a mom to two humans, a treeing walker coonhound (Indiana), and two kitties (Pumpkin and Shadow). She is also a passionate advocate for and supporter of women and underrepresented minorities in physics.

USD CAS Profile

Dr. Kamrul HOque Ome

Title: Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Kamrul Ome is a postdoctoral researcher in the Mossman Lab (SU25 - present). He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Washington State University in 2023 and previously held a postdoctoral position at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2023 – 2025). His research interests include quantum simulation and sensing with ultracold atoms, as well as using ultracold atomic platforms to study problems related to many-body nuclear physics.

In his free time, he enjoys reading books and visiting art museums.

Nathan Granillo (SP25 - Present)

Nathan is an undergraduate researcher working towards his Physics (BS) major as well as minors in Mathematics and Naval Science. Part of the San Diego Navy ROTC program, upon graduation he will commission as an officer in the US Navy. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and reading.

Spring 2025: High-power 1064 nm laser path design and safety
Summer 2025: USD-WSU research exchange (main project: assisted in building and aligning two new 780 nm interference filter lasers for the lab), high-power 1064 nm laser feedback system characterization via AOM intensity control
- Fall Colloquium (poster), APS Far West Meeting (poster)
Fall 2025 - Spring 2026: Superfluid flow-velocity characterization of a rarefaction wave using non-perturbative techniques
- DAMOP (poster)
Summer 2026: Viscous dragging via superfluid turbulence

Mark Gamaghelyan (SU25 - Present)

Mark is an undergraduate researcher working towards his Electrical Engineering (BS/BA) and Physics (BS) majors as well as a minor in Mathematics. After graduation, he plans on attending graduate school in either physics or electrical engineering to pursue a career in quantum computing. Whenever he’s not doing school, he likes to work on robotics and electrical projects.

Summer 2025 - Present: Python-based image analysis on two component turbulent BECs and soliton gases (main research mentor: Sean Mossman)
- Fall Colloquium (poster), APS Far West Meeting (poster), DAMOP (poster)
Spring 2026 - Present: Continued work with Sean, but has expanded his presence in the lab, working on arduino-based solutions for high-power laser control
Summer 2026: USD-WSU research exchange (main project: data taking on turbulent systems and current control troubleshooting)

Parker Osborne (SP26 - Present)

Parker is an undergraduate researcher working towards his Electrical Engineering (BS/BA) degree at USD. He is a recipient of the Office of Undergraduate Research BURST award for Summer 2026. After graduation, Parker is planning on attending a graduate program in electrical engineering and is looking to work in the tech sector afterwards. In his free time he enjoys surfing, reading, 3D printing, and playing the banjo.

Spring 2026: Troubleshooting of hardware in second control system enclosure
Summer 2026 (BURST Scholar): USD-WSU research exchange (main project: current control troubleshooting and computer control expansion), designing and building an ultra-low-cost four-channel signal generator for AMO labs

Simon Kinzler (SU26 - Present)

Simon Kinzler is a rising senior studying Physics and Mechanical Engineering. He is a recipient of the Office of Undergraduate Research BURST award for Summer 2026. Upon graduating in the winter of 2027, Simon is hoping to apply for graduate school to pursue a PhD program in either Physics, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. In his free time he likes grilling, surfing, playing guitar and carving/widdling!

Summer 2026 (BURST Scholar): Biot-Savart modeling with design and implemenation of fluxgate sensor and feedback system for magnetic field control, working towards professional machining certifications (standard and CNC)

Brant Smatko (SU26 - Present)

Brant is an undergraduate researcher working towards his Physics (BS) and Mechanical Engineering (BS/BA) degrees at USD. After graduation, he plans to go to grad school to pursue a masters in physics and would eventually like to invent something and start a company. In my free time I enjoy learning about geopolitics, playing video games, and learning about computers.

Summer 2026: Design, implementation, and testing of a new high-power LIAD source to increase atomic loading speeds in MOT system (main project), design of other various components in lab to help with long-term stability (side projects). 

Christian Hamilton (SU26 - Present)

Christian is an undergraduate researcher working towards his Physics (BS) degree at USD. After earning his degree, he plans to get a masters degree in a field related to quantum technologies so that he can work in the field of quantum computation. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as surfing, snowboarding, riding his motorcycle and working out. 

Summer 2026: Rapid experimental optics course (independent study course), troubleshooting and stabilizing MOT light beyond the fiber, NV center KwanTeach apparatus testing and development (independent study course)