USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

[USC Viterbi School of Engineering] provides innovative, elite education, advanced engineering research, and pathways for commercialization of technology.

Target Customer

{"Current undergraduate students","Master's students"," Doctoral students","Prospective students","Alumni","Industry corporate partners","Faculty and researchers"}

Key Differentiator

Interdisciplinary hub within USC Viterbi, including the School of Advanced Computing (SAC) as a 'school-within-a-school' and affiliations with Information Sciences Institute (ISI) and Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), plus a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.

Implementation Timeline

{"Cancer detection tool reports as little as 10 minutes for results","Interspeech 2025 awards announced in October 2025 (implied recent recent results)","Space robotics Astrobee commercial transition discussions in 2025 news cycle"}

Pain Points

1Need for advanced computing education and research bridging multiple departments
2Desire to accelerate innovation from lab to market via entrepreneurship and industry partnerships
3Integration of education, research, and commercialization to produce impact (e.g., AI, space robotics, biomedical engineering)

Key Features

1Academic programs across multiple departments (Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, etc.)
2School of Advanced Computing (SAC) as a hub for advanced computing research and education
3Division of Computing Education (DCE), Technology and Applied Computing Program (TAC), Interdisciplinary Data Science Program (IDS)
4Affiliated research centers and institutes: Information Science Institute (ISI), Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT)
5Advanced Computing Affinity Groups (ACAGs)
6Online and specialized programs: DEN@Viterbi (online graduate programs), Specialized Graduate Programs (Financial Engineering, Green Technologies, IDS, etc.)
7Resources for students: academic integrity, global outreach, K-12 outreach, faculty directory, research environment information

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Dean (e.g., Dean Yannis C. Yortsos)
2Director of USC School of Advanced Computing (e.g., Gaurav Sukhatme)
3Academic department leaders / chairs (implicit in program structure)
4Program directors of SAC, TAC, IDS, DCE (implied by organizational structure)

Client Results

1Cancer cell detection in blood samples (liquid biopsies) in as little as 10 minutes with AI tool that operates with limited human-in-the-loop
2First optical device based on 'Optical Thermodynamics' demonstrated to potentially improve chip information processing efficiency
3USC Viterbi researchers recognized with multiple awards at Interspeech 2025 (SAIL Lab Best Paper and Dual Grand Challenge wins)
4Space robotics platform Astrobee discussed for commercial transition for ISS operations
5News coverage and institutional leadership discussions on AI and engineering education

Competitive Advantages

1Strong interdisciplinary structure linking Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and other engineering disciplines
2Strategic focus on innovation and entrepreneurship with dedicated offices and centers (Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship, USC Stevens Center for Innovation, NSF I-Corps Hub West Region)
3Affiliation with prominent research centers (ISI, ICT) enabling advanced computing and AI research
4Active engagement with industry and government spaces (e.g., NASA-related initiatives, Interspeech awards)

Key Benefits

1Access to interdisciplinary computing and advanced engineering programs

2Participation in cutting-edge research with potential for commercialization

3Engagement with industry and government through entrepreneurship and innovation offices

4Exposure to high-profile research outcomes and recognized awards

5Strong connections to affiliated institutes (ISI, ICT) and national/international initiatives

Case Studies & Success Stories

Researchers Invent New AI Tool to Automate Detection of Cancer in Blood Samples

Case #1

AI-driven method detects cancer cells in liquid biopsies in as little as 10 minutes and identifies hard-to-find cells without human-in-the-loop.

Space Robotics Platform Astrobee Set for Commercial Transition for ISS Operations

Case #2

USC/ISI hosted researchers and startups to discuss Astrobee for next-generation space robotics and its transition toward commercial use.

First Optical Device Based on Optical Thermodynamics

Case #3

Innovation could help chips process information more efficiently, representing a notable advancement in computing hardware.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A comprehensive engineering school offering undergraduate and graduate programs, research initiatives, and pathways to commercialization across multiple engineering disciplines, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary computing through the School of Advanced Computing and affiliated centers.

Target Market

Prospective and current students (undergraduate, master's, doctoral), alumni, corporate partners, industry researchers, government and defense stakeholders seeking advanced engineering education and cutting-edge research collaborations.

Unique Value Proposition

An interdisciplinary, innovation-driven engineering ecosystem that combines world-class education, high-impact research, and active technology commercialization via SAC, ISC/ICT, and industry/government partnerships.

Technical Requirements

Not specified in content

Pricing Model

Not specified in content

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