University of Maryland (UMD)
College Park, MD
B.S. Physics Graduation May 2027
Publications
Optical observation of interlayer spin correlationSeptember 2026
A. Park, P. Upadhyay, A. Grankin, E. Viñas Boström, M. Ghafariasl, H. Alnatah,
M. Mohammadi-Arzanagh, G. Nambiar, B. Gao, A. Alvandi, S. Rajmano Madhan Kumar,
G. Alshalan, I. Sherwood, M. Jalali Mehrabad, Y. Zhou, A. Ramanathan,
X. Roy, A. Rubio, M. Hafezi Under review [arXiv:2609.38825]
Presentations
Metamaterial engineering of thin film superconductorsOctober 2026 Oral presentation, UMD Physics Undergraduate Committee Colloquium, College Park, MD
Metamaterial Engineering of Quantum DevicesJuly 2026
M. Hafezi, V. Galitski, A. Yacoby, A. Park, I. Sherwood Oral presentation, DARPA SynQuaNon Program Review Meeting, Alexandria, VA
Professional Experience
Joint Quantum Institute, Dept. of Physics, UMDResearch AssistantSeptember 2025 – Present
Investigating the effects of nanopatterning on the behavior of superconducting materials through fabrication and low temperature measurements in Prof. Mohammad Hafezi’s lab.
Fabricating plasmonic metasurfaces from silver to investigate their interaction with excitons in transition metal dichalcogenides.
Fabricated devices for use in measurements of interlayer spin correlations in the van der Waals antiferromagnet CrSBr.
Fabrication and characterization of nanoscale devices using electron beam lithography, scanning electron microscopy, reactive ion etching, and low temperature measurements.
Quantum Materials Center, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, UMDResearch AssistantAugust 2024 – September 2026
Experimental research in superconductors and topological materials, focusing on device fabrication and quantum transport phenomena, in Prof. Ichiro Takeuchi’s lab.
Fabricated indium and bismuth palladium spin injection devices using photolithography, ion beam etching, and other fabrication techniques; performed low temperature measurements.
Summer Student Theoretical Physics Research SessionDept. of Physics, Undergraduate ResearcherJune 2026 – Present
Studying theoretical physics with a focus on supersymmetric theories and the underlying mathematical structures, including Lie groups and algebras, Clifford algebras, and differential geometry, mentored by Prof. Sylvester James Gates Jr.
Researching the dimensional reduction of four-dimensional N = 1 supersymmetric algebras and their representations in three-dimensional space time.
Blue Wave Semiconductors, Inc.Technical InternJun 2023 – Jan 2024High School ApprenticeOct 2022 – Jun 2023
Led research in developing new techniques for fusion and eutectic bonding of semiconductor and insulating materials.
Assisted in construction, operation, and maintenance of ultra-high vacuum and thin film deposition systems for research and industrial fabrication including thermal evaporators, pulsed laser deposition, sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition systems.
Worked on a team to write project proposals and conduct background research for potential research projects and business partnerships.
Department of Physics Summer Programs, UMDSummer Camp CounselorJune 2026 – July 2026
Summer camp counselor for The Amazing Science Discovery Camp and Advanced Physics Summer Program at UMD.
Led group activities, presented demonstrations, taught lessons to students between the 3rd and 12th grades.
Department of Physics, UMDTeaching Assistant for Modern PhysicsJanuary 2026 – May 2026Teaching Assistant for Quantum Physics IAugust 2026 – Present
Teaching assistant for two upper-level degree requirements for physics majors covering early quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, special relativity (Modern Physics), as well as two state systems, bound and unbound particles, the harmonic oscillator, and the hydrogen atom (Quantum Physics I).
Holding discussion sections and problem solving sessions, proctoring exams, grading exams and homework assignments, answering student questions and providing academic support.
Society of Physics Students, UMD ChapterPaid Physics TutorJanuary 2025 – PresentVolunteer Physics TutorSeptember 2024 – December 2024
Paid tutor tutoring undergraduate physics and engineering majors in introductory mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and upper-level physics courses.
College of Information Science, UMDArchival Research SecretaryFebruary 2024 – August 2024
Collaborated with members of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and university archivists to locate culturally significant images, documents, and artifacts for use in an upcoming book and the tribe’s ongoing education projects, ensuring proper copyright permissions.
Leadership and Volunteer Experience
Society of Physics Students, UMD ChapterPresidentJune 2026 – PresentOutreach CoordinatorJune 2025 – June 2026MemberSeptember 2023 – Present
Organized a public lecture series focused on ongoing physics research and career development featuring 10+ faculty speakers.
Planned physics demonstration shows, recruitment events, fundraisers, weekly meetings, resume workshops, career development workshops, and social gatherings for undergraduate physics majors at UMD.
Worked on an organizing committee to plan and run the 2025 Society of Physics Students Zone 4 Meeting, including student talks and presentations, a poster session, and lab tours.
Physics Department Outreach, UMDOutreach PresenterSeptember 2024 – Present
Planning and running outreach events at the UMD Physics Department for elementary, middle, and high schoolers, as well as the general public.
Involved with over 20 outreach events, including Physics is Phun, Discovery Days, Maryland Day, local high school visits, and other educational science programs for the community.
QURISE Local Organizing Committee, Department of Physics, UMDConference OrganizerDecember 2025 – January 2026
Planned and organized events and lab tours for 60+ attendees at a quantum research conference hosted at UMD.
Engineers Without Borders, UMD ChapterTreasurerMay 2024 – June 2025Structures Team MemberSeptember 2023 – June 2025
Managed all money and resources for the university-wide organization chapter.
Designed and implemented sanitation and water facilities for St. Anne Grace School in Nakifuma, Uganda and a health clinic in Guatemala with a focus in structural design.
Technical Skills
Mathematics:
Algebra: linear algebra; groups, rings, fields, Galois theory; Lie groups and Lie algebras
Calculus; multivariable calculus, ordinary and partial differential equations
Wet chemical etching, reactive ion etching, ion beam etching
Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy
Low temperature superconductivity measurements
Thin Film & Vacuum Systems:
Ultra-high vacuum system construction, repair, and maintenance
Sputtering, thermal evaporation, electron beam evaporation
Atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition
Other Skills:
Writing grant proposals, technical articles
Typesetting in Latex
CAD: Autodesk Fusion 360, AutoCAD, KLayout
Honors and Awards
Sigma Pi Sigma inductee (April 2026)
Dean’s List (Fall 2025 – Present)
Coursework
University of MarylandSeptember 2023 – Present
Physics Coursework:
Quantum Physics I–II
Statistical Thermodynamics
Classical Mechanics (in progress)
Advanced Electrodynamics (in progress)
Making Physics Experiments (in progress)
Particle Astrophysics
Modern Physics
Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
Python Programming
Mathematics Coursework:
Introduction to Abstract Algebra (Group Theory)
Linear Algebra (Advanced)
Field Theory (Galois Theory)
Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometry
Introduction to Mathematical Proof
Other relevant coursework:
Nuclear Reactor Design, Nuclear Reactor Systems and Safety
Technical Writing, Teaching STEM I, Teaching STEM II (in progress)
Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Kathmandu UniversityJune 2025 – August 2025
Buddhist Studies Summer Intensive Program: Formal study of Buddhist philosophy and history at Ka Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery with a focus on Tibetan Buddhism.