Engineering a better
world for all humanity
world for all humanity
Our strategic vision
The department's vision guides our work and impact. We leverage interdisciplinary research in five distinct areas.
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The Energy-Water Nexus
Sustainability expert Sanders’ focus is the energy-water nexus — the idea that producing a safe and reliable water supply requires a lot of energy, while producing a safe and reliable energy supply requires a lot of water. She has studied ways to optimize this relationship between energy and water services for nearly a decade.
News
Get Ready for The Games Week: the Engineering Grand Challenge LA28
February 26, 2026
From March 2-6, the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) will bring together researchers, civic leaders and student innovators to brainstorm the energy, mobility, media and infrastructure challenges of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Construction’s Reckoning: Why America’s Builders Are Racing to Reinvent Their Industry
February 12, 2026
A recently released report on a NSF-funded workshop led by USC Viterbi presents the importance of collaboration between academia, industry and federal agencies.
Closing the Gap in Water Reuse: USC Engineer Elected to National Academy
February 10, 2026
Professor Amy Childress recognized by the NAE for transforming wastewater into clean water and bridging academia with the real world
Every Second Counts: Leveraging Data to Streamline Emergency Medical Services
December 3, 2025
A partnership between USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), Columbia University, and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) is developing advanced digital tools to speed up emergency services and save lives.
Azad Madni Honored by ASME with Spirit of St. Louis Medal
December 1, 2025
Azad Madni to receive ASME’s Spirit of St. Louis Medal at 2026 ASME SSDM
When Self-Driving Trucks Don’t Know What They Don’t Know
November 11, 2025
At the USC Center for Autonomy and AI's fall workshop, participants grappled with a critical question: Can foundation models power the next generation of autonomous systems?
Introducing the First Cohort of Astani Graduate Sustainability Scholars
October 22, 2025
A recently launched program at the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering provides a launchpad for young scholars to research major environmental challenges.
Transforming Buildings Into Intelligent Systems: Workspaces to Improve Your Mood
September 26, 2025
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering are reimagining buildings as intelligent engineered systems that adapt to human cognitive states.
Earthquakes, Tailgates and Superhero Movies: USC Structural Engineers Share Their Stories
September 4, 2025
Alumni of the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) reflect on how their USC education equipped them with the skills, connections and persistence to tackle high stakes challenges.
From Drought to DOE: Alumna Bria Jamison is Shaping National Environmental Policy
September 3, 2025
USC Viterbi alumna Bria Jamison (BS '18, MS '19) has dedicated her career to advancing water and energy sustainability - now, she's influencing public policy decisions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Beyond “Run, Hide, Fight”: Defensive Design for Safer Campuses
July 14, 2025
A team of USC researchers have developed a simulation strategy for understanding and predicting how people respond to emergencies such as active shooter incidents and fires.
It’s Time to Say Goodbye to “Forever Chemicals”
May 29, 2025
National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards $8 million for a new USC Superfund Center to research and address "forever chemicals."
Excellence, Curiosity, Character: The Graduates of the USC Viterbi Class of 2025
May 19, 2025
At 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, 2025
At 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, 2025
The 2025 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 150 new graduates and Haotian Hang, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis
Raising the Stakes of Sustainability
May 12, 2025
As a graduating master's student researching carbon capture and clean energy production, Aadish Panchmia is determined to make a difference.
An Adventurer’s Approach to Academic Achievement
May 12, 2025
Natalia Ratner, a graduating student studying environmental engineering, has combined a superstar academic career with experience in community teaching and sustainable farming.
What it Means to Engineer with Empathy
May 12, 2025
Patrick Borges Rodrigues' PhD in civil engineering has led to a new understanding of the sensory symbiosis of human workers and robots in the construction industry.
Harnessing the Power of Ocean Energy
May 12, 2025
Sophie Beitel, a graduating student studying environmental engineering, is helping to design and build a deep-sea battery.
Students Pitch Transformative Ventures for Los Angeles and Beyond
May 9, 2025
The 2025 Das Family Innovate x LA Student Competition challenges students to develop high-impact urban solutions and compete for a $20,000 prize.
How to Design a Competitive Concrete Canoe
May 7, 2025
Members of the student-run team reveal what’s required to stay in the race.
The Science of a Better Built Environment
April 29, 2025
Alumni of the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) reflect on how to innovate for resilience, energy-efficiency, and wellbeing in the built environment.
How Alex Gasca Went From Building Islands on Earth to Infrastructure for Space
April 23, 2025
Relativity Space infrastructure engineer credits USC Viterbi master's program in Emerging Technologies in Construction with aiding new career in space engineering.
What I Learned at the White House
April 17, 2025
After a whirlwind year advising the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), USC researcher Kelly Sanders returns to campus with new knowledge and experience to share with her students.
USC Viterbi Faculty Elected as American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows
March 28, 2025
Two leading researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering join the ranks of AAAS fellows, one of the most prestigious honors in academia.
What Can Our Sewage Tell Us? For a USC Engineering Professor, A Lot
March 18, 2025
USC Viterbi's Adam Smith monitors wastewater in some campus dorms and apartments to keep students safe from COVID, the flu and the stomach flu.
A Naming Gift for USC Viterbi’s Construction Management Program
February 25, 2025
Alumnus Jonathan Emami has made a contribution to transform the Construction Management Program
Building A More Resilient City of Angels, Part 2
February 3, 2025
From fire response robots to retardant firing artillery, USC Viterbi engineers offer potential solutions for the future.
Why Do Wildfires Increase Flood Risk?
January 29, 2025
An expert on fluid dynamics shares how engineers can help mitigate flooding after major wildfires.
Building A More Resilient City of Angels, Part 1
January 29, 2025
As Angelenos brace for "fire years" rather than "fire seasons," USC Viterbi engineers offer potential solutions for the future.
Alumni Engineers Reflect on Building USC’s Newest School
January 21, 2025
Two alumni of the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering were instrumental in the design, construction and project management of the new home for the USC School of Advanced Computing.
80 Years of the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research
December 10, 2024
The Foundation is recognized as a leading expert on backflow prevention and cross-connection control to protect public health.
Newly established Antevy Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund Empowers the Solution of Grand Challenges Addressed with the Civil and Environmental Engineering Disciplines
November 13, 2024
The newly established fund inspires students and faculty at the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) to transform their research into high-impact solutions.
From Fungi to Fuel: Student Startups Tackle Environmental Challenges
November 6, 2024
USC Civil and Environmental Engineering students are harnessing the powers of the natural world to develop innovative technologies that solve real-world problems.
Toxic Metals Found in Wildfire Suppressants
October 30, 2024
New research estimates 850,000 pounds of heavy metals have been released into the environment in the Western US from 2009-2021
How can we prevent the spread of contaminants in our water sources?
October 23, 2024
Two 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.
Could Autonomous Vehicles Make Us More Altruistic?
October 17, 2024
For USC Viterbi researcher Ruolin Li, the design and optimization of autonomous vehicles (AVs) calls for a balance of societal benefits and individual interests.
The Art of Carbon Ju-Jitsu: Transforming Carbon Dioxide into Useful Products
September 12, 2024
USC Viterbi researcher K. Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz is at the forefront of advancing technology for carbon capture and utilization.
The ReWater Center will Revolutionize Resource Resilience
September 5, 2024
The Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) is at the forefront of research for the treatment and reuse of one of our greatest resources: water.
Professor Bora Gencturk Appointed to NASEM Committee
August 18, 2024
The USC professor will apply his expertise in high-performance concrete for water infrastructure as part of a committee led by the National Academies of Sciences.
Entrepreneurial Engineers Pitch Ideas for Social and Environmental Startups
June 27, 2024
The Das Family Innovate x LA Student Competition challenges students to develop high-impact urban solutions and compete for a $20,000 prize.
From Dreams to Degrees: USC Viterbi Class of 2024 Graduates Shape Tomorrow, Today
May 11, 2024
At 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, 2024
At the USC Viterbi master’s commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates’ resilience, ingenuity and integrity
A Graduating Engineer’s Solutions for Global Water Challenges
May 8, 2024
Ana Luiza Behisnelian is using her environmental engineering degree to take on the mission of protecting one of our planet's most important resources - water.
No More Burnout: Mohamad Awada Wants to Optimize your Workspace
May 8, 2024
Mohamad Awada, a graduating Ph.D. student in USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, reflects on five years of research developing dynamic environments for modern workspaces.
Najmedin Meshkati Testifies Before Senate Committee on Boeing
May 3, 2024
International expert in safety culture and human factors, Meshkati spoke before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as part of the FAA independent expert panel reviewing Boeing's safety processes.
Meet Cyrus Maroofian, the Viterbi Alumnus Changing the World through Water
April 30, 2024
The Trojan's mission to bring potable water started at USC
Policy Influencer Jiachen Zhang Tackles Climate and Air Quality Challenges
April 29, 2024
Assistant Professor Jiachen Zhang brings her expertise in computational modeling and science-based public policy to her new role at Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Mohamad Awada Receives the 2024 USC Ph.D. Achievement Award
April 23, 2024
The USC Viterbi student was honored for his research in creating smart spaces that can drastically improve the quality of our lives.
USC Researchers are Developing AI-Enhanced Safety Inspections for Nuclear Waste
April 4, 2024
Researchers in the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering are tackling one of the most complex problems facing the U.S. Department of Energy: how to safely handle and store "spent" nuclear fuel.
Associate Professor Kelly Sanders to Advise the White House on Clean Energy Policy
April 2, 2024
Sanders has been appointed 2024 Assistant Director for Energy Systems Innovation at the White House.
From Drug-Detection to Eco-Entrepreneurship: Introducing Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz
February 26, 2024
Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz brings a wealth of experience to her role as assistant professor at USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.
Mitul Luhar joins the National Academies’ New Voices in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
February 20, 2024
Luhar will be part of the 2024-26 cohort of 26 outstanding early and mid-career scientists, engineers and medical professionals selected by National Academies.
Three USC Schools Collaborate to Reimagine the LA River
February 9, 2024
Researchers in landscape architecture, fluid mechanics and augmented reality have created an interactive hydraulic model installed alongside the Los Angeles River.
Researcher Adam Simpson Exposes the Hidden Dangers of Processed Food
December 13, 2023
Having recently joined the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil Engineering (CEE), Assistant Professor Adam Simpson advances a radical new approach to studying environmental contaminants.
The Los Angeles Interstate 10 Fire – a Concrete Specialist’s Perspective
December 5, 2023
Professor Bora Gencturk shares how high-performance building materials can mitigate the impact of urban disasters.
A New Toolkit for Teaching Green Technologies
November 21, 2023
The multi-disciplinary program, administered by USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), is equipping students with the skills to tackle the climate crisis.
Too Close for Comfort: USC Viterbi Students Use AI to Prevent Aircraft Collisions
November 17, 2023
USC had two teams among top 10 finalists in national FAA Data Challenge 2023.
Albert Dorman, Board of Councilors Member and One of Disneyland’s First Engineers, Dies at 97
November 17, 2023
Influential civil engineering alumnus was a member of the National Academy of Engineering and founding chairman of AECOM
Advanced Computing in Civil and Environmental Engineering
October 11, 2023
In teaching and research, advanced computational methods are essential for achieving the strategic vision at Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Just Play It Cool…Pre-Cool
September 19, 2023
Dramatically cooling homes with renewable energy in the middle of the day could reduce carbon dioxide emissions, save consumers money and prevent rolling blackouts
VR will change the way we train for active shooter incidents
September 11, 2023
Immersive virtual environments provide healthcare workers with a highly effective method to prepare for emergencies.
Designing an Engine Ready for Hydrogen Combustion
September 8, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting a major USC research initiative to advance the next stage of the clean energy revolution.
CEE Partners with Dassault Systèmes as a Center of Excellence
July 27, 2023
USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) is recognized as a global leader in technology and innovation.
Universities in California, Arizona, and Nevada Form Consortium to Address Clean Water Access and Sustainability Challenges
June 8, 2023
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory to Fund Academic Research to Improve Clean Water Access and Security
Get Ready for a World of Self-Growing and Healing “Living” Materials
May 26, 2023
New research at USC Viterbi School of Engineering seeks to upcycle waste materials by harnessing the power of microorganisms.
Wide Awake and Dreaming: USC Viterbi’s 2023 Master’s Commencement Ceremonies
May 13, 2023
The 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, 2023
This 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, 2023
The 2023 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 133 new graduates and Jiaoyang Li, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis.
“Everything Full Force:” USC Viterbi Senior Shines On The Track
May 3, 2023
Civil engineering major and sprinter Chioma Okonkwo hopes to medal in the NCAA Women's Track and Field Championships and perhaps even run in the Olympics
Scooby Doo Meets the Concrete Canoe
April 26, 2023
USC Viterbi's ASCE student chapter competes in the "America's Cup of Civil Engineering."
Students Compete to Innovate for a Better Future in LA
April 19, 2023
The Das Family Innovate x LA Student Competition challenges students to develop high-impact urban solutions and compete for a $15,000 prize.
Bacteria Resistant to Last Resort Antibiotic Found for First Time in Los Angeles County Wastewater
April 5, 2023
Small plasmids are considered mobile genetic elements and transmissible between different types of bacteria
Alumna Builds Her Alma Mater
April 4, 2023
Nhu Nguyen returns to USC to lead the construction of Ginsburg Hall.
Like Father, Like Son? What It Feels Like to Attend College with Your Dad
March 29, 2023
A father-son duo bond over their shared experience studying construction at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
Stressed at work? USC Researchers Aim to Change That
March 21, 2023
An interdisciplinary team, including three USC Viterbi researchers, recently received a $1.1M National Science Foundation grant for managing, mitigating on-the-job stress
The Nature of Dangerous Construction Work is Radically Changing
March 13, 2023
A new study spearheaded by the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering shows how on-site construction can go remote.
Professors Costas Synolakis and Gérard Medioni and Viterbi Board of Councilors Member Fariborz Maseeh Elected to the NAE
February 7, 2023
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is considered the highest honor for engineers
Gridlock Warrior
November 30, 2022
Ketan Savla is designing computational solutions to improve the flow of traffic in congested cities. "Smarter" stoplights may be just around the corner.
Concrete Built Half Our World, But May Be Harming It. Thomas Petersen Wants to Change That.
November 14, 2022
New USC Viterbi assistant professor works to engineer "green" cement.
Clearing the (Classroom) Air
November 8, 2022
A new air purification strategy by USC Viterbi researchers might reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in classrooms and other indoor spaces by as much as tenfold.
Micro CT Scanner – One of Just Two on the West Coast – Comes to Campus
October 31, 2022
The machine can take high-resolution pictures at the micron level, or one-millionth of a meter
34 new hires, including the new biomedical engineering chair, join for fall and spring semesters
October 28, 2022
USC Viterbi New Faculty Hires 2022-2023
The Surprising Powerful Global Tsunamis Driven by Underwater Volcanic Eruptions
August 31, 2022
USC researchers and colleagues track and document the tsunami impact of a recent event near Tonga
Need Help Building a Moon Base? USC Viterbi Researchers Partner with NASA
August 17, 2022
Low cost, low impact construction on the moon: new CrafTram technology could aid the next generation of lunar explorers
Going Digital, With Low Code and Low Cost
August 15, 2022
Electronic records startup Frontida Records raises funds to organize medical information in low resource settings across the world
Student Startup Remedy Addresses Healthcare for Unhoused
August 3, 2022
USC students gain funding for products that support portable medicine storage
Engineering Communities, One Stitch at a Time
July 7, 2022
USC senior Kathryn Huang co-founded Madhatter Knits, a knitting group that provides resources for newborns across the globe.
Going Platinum: A Non-Toxic Catalyst for Clean, Re-Usable Water
June 8, 2022
How USC researchers identified a new treatment for harmful aldehydes in wastewater
“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.
2022 Graduate Yun Li Awarded Top PhD Honor for Exemplary Research
May 11, 2022
The 2022 graduate was honored for research on the role of energy system decarbonization and land surface properties on urban air quality in Southern California.
For Graduate Elyse Pollack, There’s Nothing Better Than Being a Trojan
May 9, 2022
From playing on USC's world-famous marching band to mentorship for USC's female engineers, USC Viterbi graduating senior Elyse Pollack thrives on Trojan spirit and family.
Professor J.J. Lee retires after changing students’ lives at USC for over 50 years
April 29, 2022
Inspired by a desire to safeguard coastal spaces, Lee moved from Taiwan to the U.S. to catapult the next generation of engineers at USC Viterbi.
Milad Pirhadi, USC PhD’21, Awarded Top PhD Honor for Exemplary Research
April 25, 2022
Pirhadi, now an air pollution specialist at the California Air Resources Board, was the second PhD in Professor Constantinos Sioutas' lab to win the USC PhD Achievement Award in six years.
Catching Smoke: How a USC Team is Helping Clear the Air in Alaska
April 20, 2022
Innovative USC Viterbi course unites interdisciplinary students to clean Fairbanks smoke pollution with "Chimney Cherries"
Alumni Couple Supports Student Innovation
April 19, 2022
Santanu and Kelly Das, B.S. '95, B.S. '96 met at USC. Now they're kickstarting a CEE student innovation competition for a more sustainable Los Angeles
Becoming an Engineer, One Extreme Hike at a Time
April 8, 2022
USC Viterbi student Prathmesh Bakshhi translates his passion for discovery to impact communities and infrastructures across the globe.
Can Concrete Heal Its Own Cracks Without Losing Its Strength?
March 3, 2022
USC researchers create an alternate approach to self-healing concrete that is low cost and upholds the innate strength of the original material.
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