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Events for September 20, 2016

  • USC Stem Cell Seminar: Kim Cooper, University of California, San Diego

    Tue, Sep 20, 2016 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Kim Cooper, University of California, San Diego

    Talk Title: Shaping the limb during development and evolution

    Series: Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC Distinguished Speakers Series

    Abstract: Our work leverages the unique hindlimb structure of the lesser Egyptian jerboa to understand how genotype shapes phenotype and modulates developmental malleability. The jerboa is a desert-adapted bipedal rodent with disproportionately elongated hindlimbs, particularly the feet, fused metatarsals, five fingers and three toes, and an absence of intrinsic hindfoot muscles. We take an interdisciplinary approach to understand the cell behaviors and gene expression changes associated with each derived phenotype. We are moving toward approaches that will allow us to pinpoint gene regulatory control mechanisms that causally explain the remarkable diversity of limb shapes that arose from natural selection.

    Host: Andy McMahon

    More Info: http://stemcell.usc.edu/events

    Webcast: http://keckmedia.usc.edu/stem-cell-seminar

    Location: Eli & Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Resch. (BCC) - First Floor Conference Room

    WebCast Link: http://keckmedia.usc.edu/stem-cell-seminar

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Cristy Lytal/USC Stem Cell

    Event Link: http://stemcell.usc.edu/events

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  • Epstein Institute Seminar - ISE 651

    Tue, Sep 20, 2016 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Hongbo Dong, Assistant Professor - Dept. of Mathematics & Statistics - Washington State University

    Talk Title: Exploiting Quadratic and Separable Structures in Nonconvex Quadratic Programs via Lift-and-Project

    Abstract: In optimization, mixed-integer nonlinear programs MINLP are notoriously difficult to solve to global optimality. It is therefore crucial to exploit problem structures to design effective convex relaxations and/or approximation methods. Same claims hold even when all nonlinear terms are quadratic. We consider a generic sub-structure that comprises a quadratic form and separable (non-convex) constraints. We show how to derive convex relaxations for related non-convex sets in a higher-dimensional space by using conic semidefinite optimization techniques. Essentially by projecting such lifted relaxations back onto the original variable space, we discuss in two concrete scenarios where such lift-and-project techniques improve upon current relaxations, connect with techniques from other areas, and provide new insights. The first scenario concerns generating convex quadratic cutting surfaces to iteratively strengthen classical convex relaxations for mixed-integer quadratic programs. A specialized separation routine (based on coordinate minimization) is developed to avoid (fully) solving semidefinite programs. Our proposed method achieves a more balanced trade-off between strength and computational complexity than existing relaxations, and can be easily incorporated into branch-and-bound algorithms for MINLP. The second scenario concerns the well-known problem of variable selection in statistics and machine learning. We show that lift-and-project methods tightly connect with (folded) concave regularization functions called the Minimax Concave Penalty (MCP) from the statistical community. Our lifting relaxation provides a very different convex relaxation from classical ones (LASSO or l-1 norm) while providing competitive practical performance in certain scenarios


    Biography: Hongbo Dong received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences at the University of Iowa in 2011. After spending two years as a postdoc in a multi-disciplinary optimization group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he joined the math department of Washington State University as an Assistant Professor in 2013. His previous research focused on copositive programming, convex relaxations for non-convex problems. Recently he is interested in developing and analyzing novel convex and non-convex formulations for problems in statistics and machine learning. His research results have been published on several optimization and statistical journals including Mathematical Programming, SIAM Journal on Optimization and Biometrika.



    Host: Dr. Jong-Shi Pang

    Location: 206

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Angela Reneau

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  • Job Search Strategies & Tactics for Career Success

    Tue, Sep 20, 2016 @ 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Organizations

    Workshops & Infosessions


    WHAT: USC National Organization for Business & Engineerg x Consilium Partners Career Workshop

    WHEN: Tuesday, September 20th, 6:00 PM

    WHERE: GFS 118
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    Join celebrated career counselor Horatiu Stefan from Consilium Partners as he partners with USC NOBE to provide a free career workshop! For both underclassmen and upperclassmen, come and learn about personal branding, networking, and job search strategies, as well as informational interviews and career planning. He charges a lot for these sessions normally, so be sure to come out for a FREE workshop!

    There are many ways to achieve career success but only one secret: understanding the process.

    In "Jumpstart", Horatiu will introduce a career planning framework designed to help you build marketable skills and gain professional experience throughout your college years. You'll walk away with a set of concrete and actionable job search strategies and tactics proven to generate results.

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    The National Organization for Business and Engineering (NOBE), is a national society uniting business, management and engineering organizations from universities coast to coast. NOBE strives to produce and refine leadership internally and develop professional skills in our members that can be translated into success in the business world. Visit our website for more info, https://www.nobenational.org/usc/home.php .

    If your friends want to sign up, please direct them to this link so they can be added to the mailing list:

    https://goo.gl/forms/QDksA3jK4coNzd7s1

    More Information: Consilium Partners.pdf

    Location: Grace Ford Salvatori Hall Of Letters, Arts & Sciences (GFS) - 118

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: USC NOBE

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  • Viterbi Major Spotlight-Chemical Engineering

    Tue, Sep 20, 2016 @ 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections, Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Students will hear from panelists regarding various career options with a chemical engineering degree.

    To register, click here https://myviterbi.usc.edu/vasa/?PostingID=1234567996.

    Location: 211

    Audiences: Undergrad

    Contact: Diane Yoon

    Event Link: https://myviterbi.usc.edu/vasa/?PostingID=1234567996

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