June 05, 2008 —

As part of its continuing commitment to innovation in engineering, the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California (AMI-USC) has agreed to fund three new PhD fellowships in the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering.

Each of the new Alfred E. Mann Innovation in Engineering Doctoral Fellowships will provide $33,000 per year, renewable for up to 3 years, and are intended to support these students conducting doctoral research that is either interdisciplinary in nature (biology; medicine; engineering) or relevant to biology and medicine. Tuition will be covered by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Selection of the A.E. Mann Fellows will be made by a Committee chaired by the Sr. Associate Dean of Engineering for Academic Affairs, with representatives from AMI-USC, USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research Enhancement and the Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering.

Currently enrolled engineering doctoral students are eligible for consideration. Candidates must be studying in qualifying areas, and nominated by their respective engineering departments.

Each nominated student will be required to submit a research proposal focusing on the technological innovation and the potential impact of their doctoral research on biomedical engineering or healthcare. Each recipient will be required to attend the Engineering Entrepreneurship seminar, given at the Viterbi School every Spring.

These three new fellowships are in addition to the previously established AMI-USC graduate fellowship in Biomedical Engineering. Viterbi Dean Yannis C. Yortsos hailed the announcement. "Wonderful news!" he said. "A great collaboration grows."