Our research is concentrated on creating novel macroscopic and mesoscopic quantum systems using ultracold atoms as a resource. We are currently pursuing several projects in this area. In one, a flexible and robust Bose-Einstein condensation apparatus is used to create a variety of novel, many-body quantum systems by applying varioustools to control the internal and external structure of an ultracold atomic gas. In another experiment, magnetically trapped and evaporatively cooled atoms are delivered to the confines of a high-finesse optical cavity where they are used as a reservoir for producing single or multiple trapped "active" atoms, which are used for studies in cavity quantum-electrodynamics.