Light-Induced Vortex States and Magnetic Interactions in Quantum Materials

Mahmoud M. Asmar received his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Birzeit University in the Palestinian territories, graduating summa cum laude. He then pursued his doctoral studies at Ohio University, where he joined the theoretical condensed matter physics group led by Prof. Sergio E. Ulloa. His Ph.D. research explored the role of symmetry breaking in electronic and spin transport in Dirac-like materials. As part of his graduate work, he spent a year as a visiting scientist at the Freie Universität Berlin, investigating photoinduced quasi-bound states in graphene.

Following his Ph.D., Dr. Asmar held postdoctoral positions at Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama. At LSU, he worked with Profs. Ilya Vekhter and Daniel Sheehy on topological phases of matter, including interface effects and topological superconductivity. At the University of Alabama, he collaborated with Prof. Wang-Kong Tse, focusing on non-equilibrium phenomena and Floquet engineering in quantum materials.

In August 2021, Dr. Asmar joined Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA, as an Assistant Professor of Physics. His current research centers on spintronics, topological phases, and out-of-equilibrium effects in quantum systems. He has secured approximately $1 million in federal research funding from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, and he was honored with the Kennesaw State University Outstanding Early Career Award in recognition of his contributions to research, teaching, and student mentorship.