Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
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A New Leader for USC Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Jul 01, 2026Professor Noah Malmstadt, newly appointed chair of the USC Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, discusses the energy and manufacturing challenges that connect the disciplines, and why the future of the department is built on firm foundations.

The Exit Interview: Dean Yannis C. Yortsos

Jun 29, 2026Twenty-One Years. Twenty-One Questions. A Q&A with USC Viterbi's longest serving dean.

A New Way to Control How Fluids Move Through Rock

Jun 22, 2026USC Viterbi researchers have proved that fracture geometry can suppress unstable flow patterns and enhance fluid mixing, with implications for groundwater remediation, carbon storage, hydrogen storage and energy production.

Electron Microscopy Enters a New Dimension

Jun 12, 2026Materials science researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have addressed a longstanding problem in ferroelectric materials measurement, with implications for next-generation technologies including quantum communication and advanced photonic devices.

Three Materials Science PhD Students Selected for NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Jun 04, 2026The prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) supports emerging researchers who demonstrate exceptional potential to advance science and engineering

Tiny Particles in Urine Could Be the Key to Treating a Deadly Childhood Kidney Disease

May 28, 2026USC Viterbi researchers have discovered that a naturally occurring nanoparticle found in urine shows early promise as a treatment, and potentially a prenatal intervention, for a rare disease that kills newborns and has no approved therapy.

Class Of 2026 Trojan Engineers Tasked As Trustworthy Problem-Solvers As They Launch Next Chapter

May 17, 2026From 35 countries and equipped with the skills to advance their chosen field of engineering, the Viterbi Class of 2026 gathered to celebrate degrees earned across oceans, languages, and cultures.

Ingenuity and Perseverance: USC Viterbi Master’s Graduates Are Ready For The Toughest Challenges

May 17, 2026More than 3,500 engineering students gathered at the Galen Center on May 15 to celebrate the USC Viterbi School of Engineering's Class of 2026 master's commencement ceremonies, marked by keynote addresses.

At USC Viterbi, 170 newly minted Ph.Ds. stepped forward toward a bright future

May 16, 2026The Class of 2026 gathered at Bovard Auditorium to celebrate years of research, discovery and impact.

Engineering for Energy Demands Summit 2026: Meeting Rising Global Energy Needs

May 14, 2026Co-hosted by USC Viterbi and the National Academy of Engineering, the Engineering for Energy Demands Summit 2026 convened leaders to assess trends in investment, technology, and workforce adaptation that are shaping the future of energy systems.

How does Electron Structure Impact Light Responses in Moiré Materials?

Apr 20, 2026New research from the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC Viterbi shows how the organization of electrons can reshape how a material responds to light - opening previously inconceivable possibilities for optical and quantum technologies.

A Forecast of What’s Next for Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Apr 02, 2026The 20th annual Student Symposium and Showcase at the USC Viterbi Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science highlights research in AI-driven materials discovery, energy transition and biomolecular engineering.

No Time for Trial and Error: How to Speed Up the Discovery of the Next Super-Alloy

Feb 19, 2026A 3D-printing technique co-developed at USC has enabled the rapid discovery of a new alloy that can withstand extreme heat.

In Memoriam: Alice Gast 1958 – 2025

Nov 04, 2025USC Viterbi alumna, valedictorian and former president of Imperial College London

USC Research Harnesses AI to Predict and Understand Complex Fluid Mixing

Sep 30, 2025Research from the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science has unraveled the mystery of viscous fingering, in work that could be critical to groundwater remediation and oil recovery.

Energi Simulation Renews Research Chair in Subsurface Energy Data Science at USC Viterbi

Aug 27, 2025Data science and AI-driven research optimizes the development and management of subsurface fluids and energy.

Discovering New Materials: AI Can Simulate Billions of Atoms Simultaneously

Jul 14, 2025Allegro-FM achieves breakthrough scalability for materials research, enabling simulations 1,000 times larger than previous models.

AI Unlocks Earth’s Subsurface Mysteries for Smart Energy Applications

Jul 09, 2025As global energy challenges continue to escalate, a pioneering AI-driven study by USC Viterbi researchers offers timely solutions to CO₂ storage and resource management.

Reimagining Energy

Jun 06, 2025Annual USC Viterbi ECET Summit highlights cutting-edge research, energy augmentation breakthroughs, a new energy degree offering, and insights shaping the economics of energy and business.

Turning Research Into Reality: USC Launches New Tech Innovation Fellowship

Jun 03, 2025Two visionary company founders set the stage for groundbreaking research to become thriving startups

Zhenglu Li Receives Prestigious NSF CAREER Award for Materials Research

May 28, 2025The $595,000 award will support Li's pioneering work in complex quantum materials.

Excellence, Curiosity, Character: The Graduates of the USC Viterbi Class of 2025

May 19, 2025At the USC Viterbi undergraduate commencement ceremony, the next generation of engineers are encouraged to advance technology that solves the world's grand challenges.

“You Are Agents of Change”: The USC Viterbi Master’s Class of 2025

May 19, 2025At the USC Viterbi master's commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates on the "singular achievement" of earning their master's degree.

“Building A Better World:” Dean Yannis C. Yortsos Tells Graduates They Will Make A Difference

May 15, 2025The 2025 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 150 new graduates and Haotian Hang, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis

Building Community and Fostering Innovation: A Mork Ph.D. Student’s Journey

May 08, 2025Materials science Ph.D. Danielle E. White merges technical excellence with mentorship as she prepares for a future with Northrop Grumman.

USC Viterbi’s CURVE Program Hosts Annual Student Research Showcase

Apr 29, 2025135 student presentations address health, security, sustainability and how to enrich life

How Can Computing for AI and Other Demands Be More Energy Efficient?

Apr 28, 2025A look at different approaches by USC Viterbi and School of Advanced Computing faculty

New Insight into Unique Kagome Superconductors that Could Advance Applications of Quantum Materials

Apr 08, 2025Computational materials research offers a breakthrough in our understanding of the superconducting behavior of metals with a woven-basket-like atomic structure that houses electrons with exotic properties.

New USC Graduate Program to Train Tomorrow’s Energy Technology Leaders

Feb 19, 2025USC Viterbi launches a unique multidisciplinary MS in Energy Engineering for students who are passionate about solving our critical global challenges in energy transition.

Ph.D. Student Awarded Prestigious NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Fellowship

Jan 31, 2025Ashley Maldonado Otero aims to develop advanced nanomaterials for aerospace applications, drawing inspiration from her Puerto Rican heritage and experiences.

Three USC Viterbi Professors Named 2024 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors

Dec 16, 2024Francisco Valero-Cuevas, Wei Wu and Theodore Tsotsis received the prestigious honor in recognition of their exceptional contributions to innovation, invention and technology.

The Science of Sweet Treats

Oct 29, 2024Students conjure up a slice of pure imagination as part of USC Viterbi's new confectionery manufacturing class.

How can we prevent the spread of contaminants in our water sources?

Oct 23, 2024Two professors at USC Viterbi School of Engineering are collaborating on a puzzle with direct consequences for human health: identifying the best model for predicting the flow of contaminants in groundwater sources.

Behnam Jafarpour Receives Prestigious SPE International Data Science Award

Sep 24, 2024Jafarpour is a professor in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and an expert in subsurface energy technology.

New NSF-Funded Center Established to Lead Geologic CO2 Storage Innovation

Jul 22, 2024Center will lead to new technologies and workforce development

Do You Have A Mild Concussion? New AI Might Aid Diagnosis

Jul 09, 2024A USC Viterbi undergraduate's research could offer vital insights in diagnosing traumatic brain injury early with 99% accuracy.

A New Method to Grow Materials for the Chips of the Future

Jun 19, 2024USC Viterbi Ph.D student-led research has uncovered a novel way to grow thin films of electronic materials that could prove essential for the future of semiconductors.

The Urbina Effect

May 22, 2024How a Ph.D. student at USC Viterbi changes lives inside and outside the lab and inspires others to do the same

ECET’s 2nd Annual Symposium Highlights Research

May 20, 2024Event convenes industry and academics to showcase solutions

From Dreams to Degrees: USC Viterbi Class of 2024 Graduates Shape Tomorrow, Today

May 11, 2024At the forefront of engineering and technology, graduates like Christian Bryan redefine potential with degrees in cutting-edge fields and a commitment to lifelong exploration.

Master’s Class of 2024: “The Best So Far”

May 11, 2024At the USC Viterbi master’s commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates’ resilience, ingenuity and integrity

The Chemical Engineer Who Wants to Make a Difference in Healthcare

May 09, 2024Alejandra Felix has been researching cancer cell behavior, to improve our fundamental understanding of this complex disease.

USC Viterbi Strengthens Energy Transition Research with New Donald L. Paul Chair in Energy and Technology Management

Mar 21, 2024Gift from Donald Paul, energy pioneer and USC Keck Professor of Energy Resources, creates a new USC endowed chair on sustainable energy transition

AI Platform to Revolutionize the Discovery of the Materials of the Future

Feb 13, 2024The $2 million NSF project will harness AI to generate new optimized superalloys for game-changing applications from aerospace to healthcare.

Materials Discovery to Enable Computers that Think More Like Humans

Nov 14, 2023New USC Viterbi-led research has uncovered a novel semiconductor with an unusual material property that can enable energy-efficient computing hardware that functions like the human brain.

Putting Cancer Under A Bright Light

Nov 14, 2023A new fluorescent probe illuminates protein clusters found in a subset of breast cancers.

DEN@Viterbi celebrates 50 years of high-impact distance learning

Sep 28, 2023The progressive pedagogy of the pioneering distance learning program has changed the lives of graduate students worldwide.

Tackling Climate Change with the Help of “Coffee Filters for Molecules”

Aug 31, 2023Luis Francisco Villalobos joins USC Viterbi, bringing expertise in separation technology for energy transition and water filtration.

Six USC Viterbi Faculty Honored with NSF CAREER Awards

Jul 25, 2023The NSF’s most prestigious award for junior faculty will boost USC research in disease modeling, groundwater systems, machine learning and robotics.

OSEM Wins Nucleate L.A. Pitch Competition

Jul 21, 2023The USC Viterbi-led startup is creating a 3D printer to produce nanoparticles more efficiently and accurately

Will Generative AI Become the Weapon of Choice for Fraudsters?

Jul 07, 2023A panel for Los Angeles Tech Week discussed issues, opportunities and solutions surrounding generative AI in the cybersecurity world.

From Synthesis to Symphonies: Blending Materials with Music

Jun 23, 2023USC Viterbi Ph.D. student Claire Wu was recently awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for her materials research.

Unfolding the Mystery of Proteins

May 31, 2023Assistant professor Wade Zeno, an expert in proteins, wins the prestigious ESI MIRA award from the NIH

E-CET Pushes the Frontiers of Energy Transition

May 15, 2023The Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition Convenes Stakeholders and Funds Research Projects

Wide Awake and Dreaming: USC Viterbi’s 2023 Master’s Commencement Ceremonies

May 13, 2023The class of 2023 is "the best educated, the most representative in our history."

“At Heart, We’re Problem Solvers:” USC Viterbi Undergraduate Commencement 2023

May 13, 2023This year’s ceremony at Alumni Park was headlined by alumnus and venture capitalist, Mark Stevens, who praised the power and versatility of an engineering degree

“Attention is All You Need”: New Ph.D.s Urged to Attend to “Challenges of Earth’s Eight Billion People.”

May 12, 2023The 2023 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 133 new graduates and Jiaoyang Li, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis.

The High-Flying Frisbee Ace on a Materials Research Path

May 09, 2023Mork Class of 2023 senior and USC Ultimate Frisbee captain Hari Sridhara recently won a prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

New Mork Faculty to Boost Capacity in Material Properties, Electron Microscopy and Sustainable Energy

Apr 25, 2023The Mork Family Department welcomes new faculty members Yu-Tsun Shao, Jay H. Lee, Zhenglu Li and Charles F. Zukoski.

Materials of the Future: I’ll Have My Nano-Sized Donuts with Extra Swirls

Apr 19, 2023Yu-Tsun Shao is developing new ways to observe the changes in the properties of nano-scale particle-like objects that can be used to make next-generation computers.

The Quiet Revolution of AI on the Edge

Apr 10, 2023AI is running on mobile phones, sensors, and home appliances thanks to the engineering innovations that make the most of the limited memory, reduced computational power, and little energy available in these devices.

Crafting a Superstar Enzyme that turns CO2 Emissions into Useful Products

Mar 16, 2023Mork Family Department Assistant Professor Shaama Sharada was recently awarded a Sloan Fellowship and a Scialog grant for her CO2 reduction research.

New Drilling Simulator Giving Students Hands-on Experience in the Energy Sector

Jan 13, 2023The $150,000 Chevron-donated drilling simulator offers practical skills for careers in subsurface energy sources, including drilling geothermal wells and subsurface disposal of CO2.

34 new hires, including the new biomedical engineering chair, join for fall and spring semesters

Oct 28, 2022USC Viterbi New Faculty Hires 2022-2023

Qiang Huang Elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Aug 08, 2022Huang is an expert in engineering-informed machine learning and data analytics for advanced manufacturing systems.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: From Karachi to Los Angeles

Jul 27, 2022Sister2Sister Program at USC Viterbi Welcomes Exchange Students

Behnam Jafarpour is new Energi Simulation Chair in Subsurface Energy Data Science

Jul 20, 2022New role will support essential research harnessing AI and data science to manage subsurface resources and energy transition.

Viterbi Undergrads Brew Up a Storm… of Kombucha

May 18, 2022The American Institute of Chemical Engineers Design Challenge asked teams to harness their chemical engineering knowledge to craft the tastiest brew.

“The Best Educated Class In Our History”

May 14, 2022At 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, 2022First 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, 2022At the 2022 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony, 215 new graduates join Trojan forebears like Andrew Viterbi and Wanda Austin.

Class of 2022 Mork Graduate Awarded Prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

May 02, 2022Stephen Quiton has been harnessing computers to simulate and predict chemical reactions. He will now pursue a Ph.D. in Theoretical Chemistry at UC Berkeley.

Ershaghi Center on Energy Transition Launches

Apr 13, 2022Gift from Gary and Mary Buntmann Launches Center to Lead the Energy Transition

8 USC Viterbi Faculty Receive NSF CAREER Awards

Apr 04, 2022The NSF's most prestigious award for junior faculty has now been received by 13 USC Viterbi faculty over the past two years

New 3D Printing Technique: A Game Changer for Medical Testing Devices

Apr 01, 2022USC Viterbi researchers have developed a 3D printing technique to fabricate microfluidic devices for biomedical applications at a microscale not previously possible.

Reeling in the Phishing Accounts

Mar 31, 2022How a new USC Viterbi-led startup is using AI to fight malicious online impersonators.

Using Machine Learning to Create Materials that Enable Energy-Efficient Electronics

Mar 28, 2022USC Viterbi researchers have developed a neural network that can model a high-performing new material at a scale never-before seen.

Michael Kassner Receives Oleg D. Sherby Award from the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society

Mar 11, 2022The Choong Hoon Cho Chair was honored for his research into the performance of materials at high temperatures.

Gift from Gary and Mary Buntmann Establishes Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition at USC Viterbi

Mar 04, 2022Center to develop innovations for renewable energy tech and low-carbon future

Andrea Armani Receives the 2022 Robert E. Hopkins Leadership Award

Mar 01, 2022Honor awarded to individuals who served as leaders in their science communities

Mork Family Department Student Honored at AIChE National Meeting

Feb 01, 2022Ph.D. candidate Kareesa Kron’s presentation poster was selected as one of the best at the meeting.

Using Only 100 Atoms, Electric Fields Can Be Detected and Changed

Jan 11, 2022USC Viterbi researchers create first nano-sized, molecular device potentially capable of sensing and altering the cell’s electric field, ushering in new possibilities for basic research

Four Viterbi Faculty Receive DURIP Funding

Dec 17, 2021Select projects focus on brain modeling, emerging materials, fuels, and electromagnetic devices

Can Virtual Academic Conferences Makes STEM Fields More Inclusive?

Dec 09, 2021New analysis shows that virtual conferences increase diversity and inclusion

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

Dec 07, 2021The trio joins a distinguished class of 175 new inductees who "demonstrate a prolific spirit of innovation"

A Race Car Powered Only by the Sun?

Nov 30, 2021USC Viterbi design team, SC Solar Car, is working to build a fully solar-powered vehicle with plans to compete in the 2022 American Solar Challenge.

Mork Family Department ChemE Jeopardy Western Champions Compete in National Final

Nov 22, 2021Fresh from taking out the western regional finals, a team from the USC student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers recently competed at the national titles in Boston.

A T-Cell Power-up for Tumor Treatments

Sep 08, 2021USC Viterbi Ph.D. student researchers have found a new way to enhance the cancer-killing properties of CAR T-cell therapies, to make them more effective in fighting tumors.

Advanced Materials Research for Secure Communications Receives $3.75 Million in Funding

Sep 01, 2021USC Viterbi researchers will explore cutting-edge materials thanks to support from the Department of Defense's Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative.

Creating the Materials of the Future Using Machine Learning

Aug 19, 2021A new M.S. degree in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC Viterbi will prepare graduates to lead the creation of advanced materials using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Ten USC Viterbi Students Honored with Aerospace Fellowship

Jun 25, 2021A collaboration between the USC WiSE program and the Aerospace Corporation, this prestigious fellowship offers students the opportunity to gain real-life industry experience and develop their skills

Viterbi K-12 STEM Outreach: From Molecular Modeling to Addressing Social Problems Using AI to Fighting Hate Speech

Jun 10, 2021Even in the midst of the pandemic, USC Viterbi professors continued to prioritize K-12 outreach, engaging in projects aimed to foster learning and incite passion for science and engineering

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

May 21, 2021In a return to in-person graduation, the Class of 2020 and 2021 celebrate “passage to a post-COVID new world”

Cyrus Ashayeri: Petroleum Engineering Graduating Student Q&A

May 07, 2021Ph.D. graduate Ashayeri's research focuses on the energy industry and the application data science and advanced machine learning techniques.

Goldie Roth: Chemical Engineering Graduating Student Q&A

May 07, 2021The graduating senior in the Mork Family Department won best chemical engineering senior design project with her team. Roth will now pursue a Ph.D. at Stanford University.

Mike Shao: Chemical Engineering Graduating Student Q&A

May 06, 2021Shao has worked in Professor Andrea Armani’s lab researching core-shell nanoparticles and will now take on a role in BP’s Trader Development Program in Houston.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Donates SEM Microscope to USC Michelson Nanofabrication Lab

Apr 29, 2021Microscope is changing its focus from space to atoms

Watershield Victorious at Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition

Apr 23, 2021At the 11th annual MEPC, the team’s vision for a silicone-based polymer shield to protect cancer patients wins the $50,000 grand prize

Saving Clean Drinking Water…With Math!

Apr 07, 2021USC Viterbi researchers develop innovative new method to analyze how shifts in the earth affect drinking water supply

From DIY Toys to Cutting Edge Materials: Ph.D. Student Receives National SHPE Prize

Feb 11, 2021Advanced materials researcher Emily Anne Vargas has been honored for her contributions to the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science News

Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
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