Department of Biomedical Engineering
News

“The Best Educated Class In Our History”

May 14, 2022

At the 2022 commencement ceremony, undergraduates shared laughter, tears and hugs as they embark on a new journey

“The World Impatiently Waits For You”: 1100 USC Viterbi Master’s Students Graduate

May 14, 2022

First in-person, satellite ceremonies in two years feature four-star general and former CEO of Yahoo and Verizon Media as speakers

“Do Better Than Us”: Three Years of USC Viterbi Ph.D.s Receive Their Hoods.

May 12, 2022

At the 2022 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony, 215 new graduates join Trojan forebears like Andrew Viterbi and Wanda Austin.

The Biomedical Engineer Scaling New Heights – Literally

May 11, 2022

Class of 2022 graduate Emily Powis balances her 3D ultrasound research with death-defying climbing and bouldering adventures.

Engineering for Social Good

May 10, 2022

Remedy, the winner of the 2022 Min Family Challenge, has developed a flexible container and wearable pouch that allow unhoused people to protect their medication from would-be thieves

Ultrasound Gave Us Our First Baby Pictures. Can It Also Help the Blind See?

Apr 07, 2022

USC researchers stimulate blind retinas using focused ultrasound technology

8 USC Viterbi Faculty Receive NSF CAREER Awards

Apr 04, 2022

The NSF’s most prestigious award for junior faculty has now been received by 13 USC Viterbi faculty over the past two years

Towards Acing the Turing Test: A Blueprint for Future AI and Robots that Learn Like Living Things

Mar 24, 2022

USC Viterbi researchers worked with a DARPA-supported multi-institution team to outline how the machines of the future can achieve lifelong learning, just like humans and other animals.

Francisco Valero-Cuevas Selected As One of 12 U.S. Scientists To Advise on Issues of Medical Rehab and Disabilities

Feb 04, 2022

His four year term with the NIH’s Advisory Board On Medical Rehabilitation Research began in July 2021.

USC Team Shows How Memories Are Stored in The Brain, With Potential Impact on Conditions Like PTSD

Jan 10, 2022

Fish that glow; a tailor-made microscope; a new way to catalog science. After six years, researchers produce the first snapshots of memory in a living animal.

Four Viterbi Faculty Receive DURIP Funding

Dec 17, 2021

Select projects focus on brain modeling, emerging materials, fuels, and electromagnetic devices

Startups for A Better Tomorrow

Dec 09, 2021

The Min Family Challenge, a business model contest to develop startups that benefit the underprivileged, held its 2021-2022 kickoff

USC’s Cyrus Shahabi, Andrea Armani, and Shri Narayan Elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Dec 07, 2021

The trio joins a distinguished class of 175 new inductees who “demonstrate a prolific spirit of innovation”

Building Robots to Change Lives: A Q&A with Ali Marjaninejad

Nov 15, 2021

Ali Marjaninejad recently completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Now he’s a postdoctoral research associate in the Valero Lab, making bio-inspired robots and prostheses.

In Pursuit of a Realistic Model of the Hippocampus

Oct 13, 2021

USC Viterbi biomedical engineers have secured $1.2 million in BRAIN Initiative funding to create a model of the hippocampus that is functionally indistinguishable from the real thing.

Two USC Viterbi Students Named Caldwell Scholars

Oct 06, 2021

First-year students Jose M. Zarate Diaz and Raul Torres Jr. win the prestigious award

Skeletal Muscle Grown in a Dish Offers New Insight for Neuromuscular Diseases

Sep 13, 2021

In the fight against diseases like ALS, USC Viterbi biomedical engineering researchers have created a powerful lab model to better see how our muscles and neurons connect.

SHINE 2021: 58 High School Students Actively Contribute To USC Viterbi Research

Aug 26, 2021

“A sense of confidence, exposure and knowledge:” Students, family, and faculty celebrate the conclusion of this summer’s session of SHINE with annual poster session

Undergraduate Researchers Impress Viterbi Community With CURVE Symposium Posters

Jul 22, 2021

Over 100 USC Viterbi undergraduates present their year-long research projects virtually at the 2021 Viterbi Research Symposium

“Natural Killer Cells” to Fight Viral Infections Like COVID-19 Awarded NSF Funding

Jul 12, 2021

Eun Ji Chung and her team will examine the properties of these powerful cells and how they can be developed into treatments for COVID-19 and other viral infections.

Find Your Genetic Relatives Quickly and Accurately with USC ISI’s iLASH Algorithm

Jun 11, 2021

ISI researcher and PhD student utilize iLASH to study genetic causes of diseases and the genetic structure of populations.

Commencement 2021: Engineering Grads Take Center Stage at L.A. Coliseum For First Time in 71 Years

May 21, 2021

In a return to in-person graduation, the Class of 2020 and 2021 celebrate “passage to a post-COVID new world”

Ph.D. Students Antonina Maxey and Natalie Khalil Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

May 20, 2021

The Department of Biomedical Engineering students will pursue research to broaden our understanding of heart attacks and how the cells of the uterus function.

“We Are The Generation We’ve Been Waiting For”

May 17, 2021

USC Viterbi online celebration: the Class of 2021 embraces the future with hope and purpose

Using Ancient Knowledge to Fight Pandemics

May 14, 2021

Class of 2021 USC Viterbi biomedical engineering senior Melissa Banks is working on self-sanitizing copper-coated masks to keep us safe from dangerous viruses.

Sydney Mayer: Biomedical Engineering Graduating Student Q&A

May 10, 2021

The biomedical engineering student has been competing on an international stage in roller derby, while working on research that aims to improve lives of children with movement disorders like cerebral palsy.

Niki Tavakoli: Biomedical Engineering Graduating Student Q&A

May 10, 2021

Tavakoli has been working on STEM outreach to school age students through the USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center, and will now pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering.

Dominie Miyasato: BME Graduating Student Q&A

May 06, 2021

Miyasato, president of the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering (ASBME), has been researching the optical properties of dyes and tattoo inks.

Watershield Victorious at Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition

Apr 23, 2021

At the 11th annual MEPC, the team’s vision for a silicone-based polymer shield to protect cancer patients wins the $50,000 grand prize

Healthier Healthcare

Mar 16, 2021

An AI algorithm developed by Gerald Loeb would comb through millions of electronic medical records to suggest diagnoses and tests to improve patient outcomes and lower costs

Early Warning for Seizures Could Be a Game-Changer for Epilepsy Patients

Feb 19, 2021

USC researchers have harnessed a powerful mathematical model to provide advanced seizure prediction, revolutionizing epilepsy management and treatment.

Three USC Viterbi Faculty Named National Academy of Inventors Fellows

Dec 08, 2020

Professors Keith Chugg, Jay Kuo and Gerald Loeb join this year’s list of 175 distinguished academic inventors

Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition Returns

Dec 07, 2020

The latest edition of the 11-year-old MEPC features 15 startup teams competing for a $50,000 grand prize.

Brain Development and Disorder Research Receives $1.5 Million NSF Boost

Nov 06, 2020

Megan McCain, Giorgia Quadrato and Leonardo Morsut have been awarded a four year National Science Foundation grant to develop better organoids, to help us understand human brain development and disease.

“Viterbi vs. Pandemics!” Lecture 7: Vaccine Development

Nov 03, 2020

Zohrab A. Kaprielian fellow in Engineering and Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering Pin Wang discussed immunology behind the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Viterbi vs. Pandemics” Lecture 6: Predictions on COVID-19 to the C.D.C.

Oct 23, 2020

USC Viterbi data scientists helping decision-makers see beyond the fog of data to provide better pandemic forecasts and save lives

Ellis Meng Elected to IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Leadership Role

Sep 18, 2020

The USC Viterbi Department of Biomedical Engineering professor will take on the role of Vice President Technical Activities-Elect.

USC Viterbi Offers Two New Short Courses: “Viterbi vs. Pandemics!” and “Sustainable Energy”

Sep 03, 2020

Both lecture series launch the week after Labor Day, offering students a comprehensive faculty coverage of COVID-19 and a series on sustainable energy with Dean Yortsos

Using Tattoo Ink to Find Cancer

Aug 31, 2020

Researchers in USC Viterbi’s Department of Biomedical Engineering have discovered how commonly used coloring agents such as tattoo inks and food dyes could help improve cancer detection.

“Escape Velocity” Podcast Series Explores Race, Academia and STEM

Aug 26, 2020

New USC Viterbi series captures the stories of Black faculty, students and academic leaders.

USC Viterbi Sustainability Projects Receive $150,000 Funding Boost

Aug 18, 2020

Projects centered on precision agriculture, water modeling using AI, and smog-reducing architecture have been recognized in the USC Center for Sustainability Solutions’ latest grants.

Top Nanomedicine Researcher Releases Cell Biology Coloring Book for Kids

Jun 25, 2020

Eun Ji Chung’s new coloring book explores the magical world of human cells, with proceeds to benefit COVID-19 efforts.

Six USC Viterbi Faculty Win NSF CAREER Awards

Jun 01, 2020

Awards span research from machine learning to wastewater reuse to fluid dynamics and to self-healing materials.

The 2020 Undergraduate Student Awards

May 27, 2020

Motivated to engineer a better world for all humanity, USC Viterbi celebrates graduates who have pursued academic excellence and impacted their communities.

Bringing it Home: The Biomedical Engineer Making a Difference in Panama

May 13, 2020

Class of 2020 graduate, Lily Lau Hou is taking the skills from her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering to launch a startup and help the COVID-19 response in her homeland.

AgriCulture Wins The Min Family Challenge

May 01, 2020

The USC Viterbi-led team aims to improve the diets and health of low-income, urban residents in unique contest pairing engineering and societal challenges

An Imaging Method To Help Us See Behind Our Eyes

Apr 29, 2020

USC researchers have developed a high-powered ultrasound imaging technique to help uncover serious eye diseases sooner than ever before.

Kick Drums and Glucose Sensors

Apr 28, 2020

How USC Viterbi’s interdisciplinary research helped get this beatboxer an engineering degree.

Trojan Students Sweep the Boeing Innovation Challenge

Apr 22, 2020

USC teams take the first three places in the prestigious competition, with USC Viterbi students leading the way.

BME Students Forging Strong Community Via Virtual Events and Initiatives

Apr 15, 2020

USC’s Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering is keeping busy with a series of online member events and fundraising initiatives to support COVID-19 efforts.

As the World Goes Remote, USC Researchers, Entrepreneurs Work to Fill Gap in Healthcare Supply Chain

Apr 08, 2020

USC researchers and alumni emphasize innovation and collaboration to support the fight against COVID-19 on the front lines.

A Super Particle to Help Stop Heart Attacks and Strokes

Mar 31, 2020

Researchers in USC Viterbi’s Department of Biomedical Engineering have created a new nanoparticle that aims to prevent potentially deadly blood clots.

Research Team in Race to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatments

Mar 25, 2020

Researchers in the USC Viterbi Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science are joining the global research effort to develop a viable vaccine to halt the global pandemic.

USC Viterbi Listed Again Among the Nation’s Top 10 Engineering Graduate Programs

Mar 19, 2020

Annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report also keep USC Viterbi among the top five private engineering schools

Inventing a Stroke Rehabilitation Device in 48 Hours

Mar 06, 2020

This year’s ASBME Makeathon saw 10 student teams battling the clock to build biomedical devices to help stroke survivors recover their hand and wrist movement.

How To Mend A Broken Heart, If You’re A Zebrafish

Feb 14, 2020

Researchers at USC Viterbi designed and built a device that keeps zebrafish hearts alive longer than ever to give us insights into how to repair a broken heart

Ellis Meng and Dong Song Awarded $6 Million to Develop Polymer Brain Devices for the Research Community

Jan 09, 2020

The BRAIN Initiative grant will allow researchers to create cutting edge polymer electrodes for better brain signal monitoring, paving the way for devices that could restore human memory.

In A Season Of Giving, This Student Start-up Is Transforming The Way We Give

Dec 09, 2019

Duet is the world’s first student-built micro-philanthropy platform designed to connect donors with refugees and local stores in a more personalized and dignified way

Lighting Up Cardiovascular Problems Using Nanoparticles

Dec 05, 2019

New nanotechnology will allow detection of blocked arteries more effectively than ever before.

Eun Ji Chung Named as IEEE New Innovator and BMES Rising Star

Nov 21, 2019

Chung has recently picked up the awards for her work in nanomedicine and cell and molecular bioengineering.

Meet the Researcher Pioneering Medical Testing Using Paper and Nail Polish

Nov 11, 2019

Maral Mousavi, new USC Viterbi faculty, wants to make medical diagnostics more accessible and affordable.

Ellis Meng Wins IEEE Sensors Council Technical Achievement Award

Nov 05, 2019

Meng has been recognized for her career achievements in the field of biomedical microelectromechanical sensors.

Keyue Shen to Lead Ongoing Research Initiative Into Cancer Metastasis

Oct 30, 2019

The new NIH-funded project will assemble a top research team to further our understanding of why and how cancer spreads throughout the body.

DJ Turned Scientist Works to Reverse Engineer Depression, PTSD and Drug Addiction

Sep 17, 2019

USC Viterbi’s Jennifer Treweek witnessed too many people suffering from drug addiction, PTSD and depression around her, so she dedicated her life to eradicating their deadly effects

Qifa Zhou Elected as Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors

Aug 13, 2019

Professor of biomedical engineering and ophthalmology is one of 54 academic inventors elected to the Spring 2019 class of NAI Senior Members.

High School Students on the Cutting Edge of Biomedical Engineering

Jun 18, 2019

Students from the Orthopaedic Medical Magnet High School are building their own biomedical devices, with a little help from USC Viterbi faculty and students.

Student Excellence Celebrated at BME Undergraduate Awards

May 13, 2019

The inaugural awards were supported by the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering.

Student Research Shines at Grodins Symposium

Apr 23, 2019

Around 90 biomedical engineering students presented their research to industry and research professionals at the annual Fred S. Grodins Research Symposium.

Excellence In Engineering

Apr 12, 2019

At the 41st Viterbi Awards, NAE President Dan Mote Jr., alumna and Northrop Grumman VP Linnie Haynesworth, and SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell were honored.

A New Dawn

Apr 08, 2019

Project SUNRISE encourages USC Viterbi and other students to leverage their technical and entrepreneurial skills to help community members in need.

The Future of Med-Tech Innovation in Just 48 Hours

Mar 21, 2019

Engineering students teamed up for the annual ASBME Makeathon, creating new assistive devices for Parkinson’s patients over the course of one weekend.

A Robotic Leg, Born Without Prior Knowledge, Learns to Walk

Mar 11, 2019

New AI algorithms could allow robots to learn to move by themselves, imitating animals.

National Cancer Institute Award to Support Research on Colorectal Cancer at USC

Jan 22, 2019

USC Viterbi’s Stacey Finley and Shannon Mumenthaler from the Keck School of Medicine of USC lead new $3.1 million grant to advance search for new cancer treatments using computer simulations

Four USC Viterbi Faculty Members Selected As IEEE Fellows

Jan 08, 2019

USC Viterbi Faculty members from Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering join the 2019 class of IEEE fellows.

Ellis Meng and Mike Waterman Elected Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Dec 11, 2018

USC faculty members were two of 148 academic inventors selected this year

A Maker Space For The Ages

Nov 14, 2018

The Baum Family Maker Space, which will establish a new hub for undergraduate student innovation, positions USC Viterbi as a leader in hands-on engineering learning.

Building A Better “CAR”

Nov 01, 2018

A trio of USC Viterbi researchers have unlocked secrets about an engineered protein receptor, known as CAR, that makes cancer-fighting T cells more effective.

Eun Ji Chung Awarded NIH New Innovator Award

Oct 02, 2018

Grant to study nanoparticle innovations for kidney disease is a paradigm shift

USC students go into refugee camps in Greece to volunteer and research solutions to the global refugee crisis

Sep 26, 2018

New USC Viterbi course focused on engineering solutions for social good takes students from seven USC schools in a close encounter with problems inside refugee camps

ASBME receives outstanding achievement award

Sep 12, 2018

The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) has selected USC’s student chapter as the 2018 recipients

This Tiny Particle Might Change Millions of Lives

Aug 22, 2018

Nanoparticle Targets Kidney Disease for Drug Delivery

Professor Kirk Shung becomes Dwight C. and Hildagarde E. Baum Chair

Jul 11, 2018

Dean’s Professor of Biomedical Engineering Kirk Shung assumes the mantle of department chair for BME.

Eureka! Eureka! The Class of 2018 Has Found It

May 12, 2018

After long nights that muddled into early mornings in SAL, CED, and Leavey, they’re ready to set sail

Master’s Class For The Ages

May 12, 2018

2018 USC Viterbi master’s students shared hugs, laughs and memories at graduation ceremonies.

Student’s globalized upbringing informs USC journey

May 11, 2018

From D.C. to Los Angeles via Lagos, graduating biomedical engineer and USC Viterbi flag bearer reflects on his impressive accomplishments.

2018 Viterbi Master’s Student Awards

May 11, 2018

Accomplishments of Viterbi Master’s students celebrated at the second annual event

Marie Curie Dropped the Ph.D. Mic 115 Years Ago. These Trojans Picked It Up.

May 10, 2018

At the 2018 USC Viterbi Ph.D. Hooding and Awards ceremony, the intellectual descendants of Curie, Drexler and Viterbi took the stage.

Talented Trio Take Graduation By Storm

May 09, 2018

Alexa, Brock and Olivia Hudnut are the ultimate Trojan trio.

USC Women In Science and Engineering (WiSE) helps junior female faculty share their research

May 07, 2018

The annual WiSE Research Horizons Symposium at USC brought together some of the best minds in academic research

Driven to Help Others

May 04, 2018

USC Viterbi junior Rhea Choudhury combines entrepreneurship, tutoring and academic research to make the world a better place.

Winning Big

Apr 19, 2018

USC Viterbi faculty, students receive multiple awards at the 2018 OCEC Awards and Honors Banquet.

Are we getting closer to a complete brain mapping? New devices explore more regions safely

Apr 13, 2018

Researchers have developed thin, flexible polymer-based materials that record activity in more subregions of the brain with safer, more specific placement.

How do you upgrade an archaic biomedical device? Make it “self-aware”

Apr 12, 2018

USC start-up Senseer has developed microsensing technologies to improve care for patients with hydrocephalus.

Engineers Assemble!

Apr 05, 2018

Building Prosthetic Arms for Children in 30 Hours or Less (And a Dash of “Iron Man” Inspiration)

USC’s Chapter of National Society of Black Engineers Named Best in the Nation

Mar 28, 2018

The national honor reflects USC NSBE’s strength in “academic excellence, professional development, and community outreach.”

Prosthetic Memory System Successful in Humans, Study Finds

Mar 28, 2018

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and USC have demonstrated the successful implementation of a prosthetic system that uses a person’s own memory patterns to facilitate the brain’s ability to encode and recall memory