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Events for the 2nd week of April

  • Repeating EventAviation Safety Management Systems ASMS 24-4

    Mon, Apr 08, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    A Safety Management System (SMS) is now required for international commercial aircraft operators, airports, and air traffic services. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the standards and implementing procedures for SMS. All 191 countries that are members of ICAO have established or are establishing regulatory requirements for the implementation of SMS. This course teaches how organizations can establish an SMS within the context of their current safety system that meets the basic international standards of ICAO. The SMS Framework serves as a central foundation for this course.
    SMS is a safety system by which an organization takes a more active role in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating safety issues that occur in the normal operation of their organization. SMS requires that organizational management take responsibility for the company’s safety program. The SMS approach requires the safety/quality team to be educated in their duties and responsibilities. This course will give you the essential skills to manage an organizational Safety Management System (SMS). The attendee will be able to manage a Safety Management System that includes risk management, audits, data collection, analysis, and incident investigations.
    This course is designed for the individual planning or directing an aviation Safety Management System program. Fundamentals in systems organization and structure provide the individual with the skills and methodology to plan and manage an effective program. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of risk management, identifying program development strategies, audits, and applying the knowledge toward effective management systems and interoperability with Quality Assurance.

    Location: Online

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AASMS4

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  • Repeating EventArtificial Intelligence System Safety AISYS 24-2

    Mon, Apr 08, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and autonomous systems have become pervasive in software applications. However, the implications for AI safety have created new concerns and risk factors, especially for autonomous vehicles. This course thoroughly surveys AI, machine learning, optimization, and autonomous vehicle techniques, followed by safety and hazard analysis methods. Along the way, we will bring clarity to definitions, actual capabilities of AI systems, and the current state of data science. Case studies and real-world incidents will also provide learnings and insights to advance the goal of AI safety.

    Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAISYS2

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  • Repeating EventEiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours

    Mon, Apr 08, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Viterbi Ph.D. students are invited to stop by the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one instruction for their academic and professional communications tasks. All instruction is provided by Viterbi faculty at the Engineering in Society Program.

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A

    Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students

    View All Dates

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home?authuser=0

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  • Repeating EventEiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours

    Mon, Apr 08, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

    Engineering in Society Program

    Student Activity


    Drop-in hours for writing and speaking support for Viterbi Ph.D. students

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home

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  • CS Colloquium: Xuhai Orson Xu - How Do We Get There?: Toward Intelligent Behavior Intervention

    Mon, Apr 08, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Xuhai Orson Xu, MIT

    Talk Title: How Do We Get There?: Toward Intelligent Behavior Intervention

    Abstract: As the intelligence of everyday smart devices continues to evolve, they can already monitor basic health behaviors such as physical activities and heart rates. The vision of an intelligent behavior change intervention pipeline for health -- combining behavior modeling & interaction design -- seems to be within reach. How do we get there?In this talk, I will introduce a comprehensive intervention pipeline that bridges behavior science theory-driven designs and generalizable behavior models. I will also introduce my efforts on passive sensing datasets, human-centered algorithms, and a benchmark platform that drives the community toward more robust and deployable intervention systems for health and well-being.   This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium

    Biography: Xuhai "Orson" Xu is a postdoc at MIT EECS. He received his PhD at the University of Washington. Specializing in human-computer interaction, applied machine learning, and health, Xu develops intelligent behavior intervention systems to promote human health and well-being. His research covers two aspects -- 1) building deployable human-centered behavior models and 2) designing interactive user experiences -- to establish a complete system to improve end-users' well-being. Moreover, his research also goes beyond end-users and supports health experts by designing new human-AI collaboration paradigms in clinical settings. Xu has earned several awards, including 9 Best Paper, Best Paper Honorable Mention, and Best Artifact awards. His research has been covered by media outlets such as the Washington Post and ACM News. He was recognized as the Outstanding Student Award Winner at UbiComp 2022, the 2023 UW Distinguished Dissertation Award, and the 2024 Innovation and Technology Award at the Western Association of Graduate Schools.

    Host: Stefanos Nikolaidis

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 132

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: CS Faculty Affairs

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  • Repeating EventAviation Safety Management Systems ASMS 24-4

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    A Safety Management System (SMS) is now required for international commercial aircraft operators, airports, and air traffic services. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the standards and implementing procedures for SMS. All 191 countries that are members of ICAO have established or are establishing regulatory requirements for the implementation of SMS. This course teaches how organizations can establish an SMS within the context of their current safety system that meets the basic international standards of ICAO. The SMS Framework serves as a central foundation for this course.
    SMS is a safety system by which an organization takes a more active role in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating safety issues that occur in the normal operation of their organization. SMS requires that organizational management take responsibility for the company’s safety program. The SMS approach requires the safety/quality team to be educated in their duties and responsibilities. This course will give you the essential skills to manage an organizational Safety Management System (SMS). The attendee will be able to manage a Safety Management System that includes risk management, audits, data collection, analysis, and incident investigations.
    This course is designed for the individual planning or directing an aviation Safety Management System program. Fundamentals in systems organization and structure provide the individual with the skills and methodology to plan and manage an effective program. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of risk management, identifying program development strategies, audits, and applying the knowledge toward effective management systems and interoperability with Quality Assurance.

    Location: Online

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AASMS4

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  • Repeating EventArtificial Intelligence System Safety AISYS 24-2

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and autonomous systems have become pervasive in software applications. However, the implications for AI safety have created new concerns and risk factors, especially for autonomous vehicles. This course thoroughly surveys AI, machine learning, optimization, and autonomous vehicle techniques, followed by safety and hazard analysis methods. Along the way, we will bring clarity to definitions, actual capabilities of AI systems, and the current state of data science. Case studies and real-world incidents will also provide learnings and insights to advance the goal of AI safety.

    Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAISYS2

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  • ECE Seminar: White-Box Computational Imaging: Measurements to Images to Insights

    ECE Seminar: White-Box Computational Imaging: Measurements to Images to Insights

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Sara Fridovich-Keil, Postdoctoral Fellow | Department of Electrical Engineering | Stanford University

    Talk Title: White-Box Computational Imaging: Measurements to Images to Insights

    Abstract: Computation and machine learning hold tremendous potential to improve the quality and capabilities of imaging methods used across science, medicine, engineering, and art. Despite their impressive performance on benchmark datasets, however, deep learning methods are known to behave unpredictably on some real-world data, which limits their trusted adoption in safety-critical domains. Accordingly, in this talk I will describe white-box, interpretable methods for photorealistic volumetric reconstruction that match or exceed the performance of black-box neural alternatives. I will also present recent theoretical results that guarantee correct and efficient reconstruction using our white-box approach in nonlinear computed tomography.

    Biography: Sara Fridovich-Keil is a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, where she works with Mert Pilanci and Gordon Wetzstein on foundations and applications of machine learning and signal processing in computational imaging. She is currently supported by an NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Sara received her PhD in electrical engineering and computer sciences in May 2023 from UC Berkeley, where she was advised by Ben Recht and supported by an NSF GRFP fellowship. Sara received her BSE in electrical engineering from Princeton University in 2018, where she was advised by Peter Ramadge and supported, in part, by a Barry Goldwater Scholarship.

    Host: Drs. Antonio Ortega (aortega@usc.edu) and Mihailo Jovanovic (mihailo@usc.edu)

    Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/93797502146?pwd=UzZWRjJieFdIMVU2b3VlckFtQUd3QT09 - (USC NetID Login Required)

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/93797502146?pwd=UzZWRjJieFdIMVU2b3VlckFtQUd3QT09 - (USC NetID Login Required)

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Mayumi Thrasher

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  • CS Colloquium: Niloufar Salehi - Designing Reliable Human-AI Interactions: Translating Languages and Matching Students

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Niloufar Salehi, UC Berkeley

    Talk Title: Designing Reliable Human-AI Interactions: Translating Languages and Matching Students

    Abstract: How can users trust an AI system that fails in unpredictable ways? Machine learning models, while powerful, can produce unpredictable results. This uncertainty becomes even more pronounced in areas where verification is challenging, such as in machine translation, and where reliance depends on adherence to community values, such as student assignment algorithms. Providing users with guidance on when to rely on a system is challenging because models can create a wide range of outputs (e.g. text), error boundaries are highly stochastic, and automated explanations themselves may be incorrect. In this talk, I will first focus on the case of health-care communication to share approaches to improving the reliability of ML-based systems by guiding users to gauge reliability and recover from potential errors. Next, I will focus on the case of student assignment algorithms to examine modeling assumptions and perceptions of fairness in AI systems.   This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium

    Biography: Niloufar Salehi is an assistant professor in the School of Information at UC, Berkeley where she is a member of Berkeley AI Research (BAIR). She studies human-computer interaction, with her research spanning education to healthcare to restorative justice.  Her research interests are social computing, human-centered AI, and more broadly, human-computer interaction (HCI). Her work has been published and received awards in premier venues including ACM CHI, CSCW, and EMNLP and has been covered in VentureBeat, Wired, and the Guardian. She is a W. T. Grant Foundation scholar for her work on promoting equity in student assignment algorithms. She received her PhD in computer science from Stanford University in 2018.

    Host: Souti Chattopadhyay

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 136

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: CS Faculty Affairs

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  • UG-WIE Connection and Community- Investing in Balancing Your Life

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    WIE is excited to bring to you Michelle D. Katz MS, RD, MPH, CHES | Registered Dietitian & Certified Health Education Specialist for our last Connection and Community for the Spring semester. We will be making overnight oats, don't miss out on important guidance from Michelle on learning to balance your life.
    2-3 PM Undergrads
    3-4 PM Masters
    4-5 PM PhD
    Join at the best time that works with your schedule!

    Location: Sign into EngageSC to View Location

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Thelma Federico Zaragoza

    Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/WIE/rsvp?id=396470

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  • MASTERS- Connection and Community- Investing in Balancing Your Life

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Student Activity


    WIE is excited to bring to you Michelle D. Katz MS, RD, MPH, CHES | Registered Dietitian & Certified Health Education Specialist for our last Connection and Community for the Spring semester. We will be making overnight oats, don't miss out on important guidance from Michelle on learning to balance your life.
    2-3 PM Undergrads
    3-4 PM Masters
    4-5 PM PhD
    Join at the best time that works with your schedule!

    Location: Sign into EngageSC to View Location

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Thelma Federico Zaragoza

    Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/WIE/rsvp?id=396538

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  • NiSource Engineering Panel

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Details
    NiSource Inc. is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,200 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers.
     
    During this session, you will discover how NiSource is harnessing sustainability and responsible innovation to fuel a safer and cleaner future. The energy industry is one of the most dynamic business sectors in the world. In fact, energy companies like NiSource are leveraging pioneering technologies to address the need for cleaner energy, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fuel a cleaner future.
     
    Learn more about NiSource: Future of Energy , NiSource Sustainability , NiSource Careers
     
    Required Next Step after Registering for Event: Join our Talent Network by clicking the link where you will upload your resume and professional information. Use code Apr9EngWeb when it asks, “At which event did you hear about our Talent Network?” 
     
    External employer-hosted events and activities are not affiliated with the USC Viterbi Career Connections Office. They are posted on Viterbi Career Connections because they may be of interest to members of the Viterbi community. Inclusion of any activity does not indicate USC sponsorship or endorsement of that activity or event. It is the participant’s responsibility to apply due diligence, exercise caution when participating, and report concerns to vcareers@usc.edu">vcareers@usc.edu 

    Location: Virtual

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • Epstein Institute, ISE 651 Seminar Class

    Epstein Institute, ISE 651 Seminar Class

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM

    Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Zijun Gao, Assistant Professor, Department of Data Sciences and Operations, USC Marshall School of Business

    Talk Title: Selective Randomization Inference for Adaptive Studies

    Host: Dr. Renyuan Xu

    More Information: April 9, 2024.pdf

    Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS) - SOS Building, B2

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Grace Owh

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  • PhD- Connection and Community- Investing in Balancing Your Life

    Tue, Apr 09, 2024 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Student Activity


    WIE is excited to bring to you Michelle D. Katz MS, RD, MPH, CHES | Registered Dietitian & Certified Health Education Specialist for our last Connection and Community for the Spring semester. We will be making overnight oats, don't miss out on important guidance from Michelle on learning to balance your life.
    2-3 PM Undergrads
    3-4 PM Masters
    4-5 PM PhD
    Join at the best time that works with your schedule!

    Location: Sign into EngageSC to View Location

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Thelma Federico Zaragoza

    Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/WIE/rsvp?id=396539

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  • Repeating EventAviation Safety Management Systems ASMS 24-4

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    A Safety Management System (SMS) is now required for international commercial aircraft operators, airports, and air traffic services. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the standards and implementing procedures for SMS. All 191 countries that are members of ICAO have established or are establishing regulatory requirements for the implementation of SMS. This course teaches how organizations can establish an SMS within the context of their current safety system that meets the basic international standards of ICAO. The SMS Framework serves as a central foundation for this course.
    SMS is a safety system by which an organization takes a more active role in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating safety issues that occur in the normal operation of their organization. SMS requires that organizational management take responsibility for the company’s safety program. The SMS approach requires the safety/quality team to be educated in their duties and responsibilities. This course will give you the essential skills to manage an organizational Safety Management System (SMS). The attendee will be able to manage a Safety Management System that includes risk management, audits, data collection, analysis, and incident investigations.
    This course is designed for the individual planning or directing an aviation Safety Management System program. Fundamentals in systems organization and structure provide the individual with the skills and methodology to plan and manage an effective program. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of risk management, identifying program development strategies, audits, and applying the knowledge toward effective management systems and interoperability with Quality Assurance.

    Location: Online

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AASMS4

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  • Repeating EventArtificial Intelligence System Safety AISYS 24-2

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and autonomous systems have become pervasive in software applications. However, the implications for AI safety have created new concerns and risk factors, especially for autonomous vehicles. This course thoroughly surveys AI, machine learning, optimization, and autonomous vehicle techniques, followed by safety and hazard analysis methods. Along the way, we will bring clarity to definitions, actual capabilities of AI systems, and the current state of data science. Case studies and real-world incidents will also provide learnings and insights to advance the goal of AI safety.

    Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAISYS2

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  • Repeating EventEiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Viterbi Ph.D. students are invited to stop by the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one instruction for their academic and professional communications tasks. All instruction is provided by Viterbi faculty at the Engineering in Society Program.

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A

    Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students

    View All Dates

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home?authuser=0

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  • Repeating EventEiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

    Engineering in Society Program

    Student Activity


    Drop-in hours for writing and speaking support for Viterbi Ph.D. students

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home

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  • Computer Science General Faculty Meeting

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 12:00 PM - 02:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Receptions & Special Events


    Bi-Weekly regular faculty meeting for invited full-time Computer Science faculty only. Event details emailed directly to attendees.

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 526

    Audiences: Invited Faculty Only

    Contact: Assistant to CS Chair

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  • AAI-CCI-MHI Seminar on CPS, Wed., April. 10, 2:00 pm, EEB 248: Gioele Zardini

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Gioele Zardini, Postdoctoral Researcher

    Talk Title: Co-Design of Complex Systems: From Autonomy to Future Mobility

    Series: EE598 Seminar Series

    Abstract: When designing complex systems, we need to consider multiple trade-offs at various abstraction levels and scales, and choices of single components need to be studied jointly. For instance, the design of future mobility solutions (e.g., autonomous vehicles, micromobility) and the design of the mobility systems they enable are closely coupled. Indeed, knowledge about the intended service of novel mobility solutions would impact their design and deployment process, while insights about their technological development could significantly affect transportation management policies. Optimally co-designing sociotechnical systems is a complex task for at least two reasons. On one hand, the co-design of interconnected systems (e.g., large networks of cyber-physical systems) involves the simultaneous choice of components arising from heterogeneous natures (e.g., hardware vs. software parts) and fields, while satisfying systemic constraints and accounting for multiple objectives. On the other hand, components are connected via collaborative and conflicting interactions between different stakeholders (e.g., within an intermodal mobility system). In this talk, I will present a framework to co-design complex systems, leveraging a monotone theory of co-design and tools from game theory. The framework will be instantiated in the task of designing future mobility systems, all the way from the policies that a city can design, to the autonomy of vehicles as part of an autonomous mobility-on-demand service. Through various case studies, I will show how the proposed approaches allow one to efficiently answer heterogeneous questions, unifying different modeling techniques and promoting interdisciplinarity, modularity, and compositionality. I will then discuss open challenges for compositional systems design optimization, and present my agenda to tackle them.
     

    Biography: Gioele Zardini is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University and an incoming faculty at MIT in Fall 2024. 
    He received his BSc., MSc., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Robotics, Systems, and Control from ETH Zurich in 2017, 2019, and 2023 respectively. He spent time in Singapore as a researcher at nuTonomy (then Aptiv, now Motional), at Stanford University (working with Marco Pavone), and at MIT (in 2020 working with David Spivak, and in 2023 with Munther Dahleh). 
    Driven by societal challenges, the goal of his research is to develop efficient computational tools and algorithmic approaches to formulate and solve complex, interconnected system design and autonomous decision-making problems. His research interests include the co-design of sociotechnical systems, compositionality in engineering, applied category theory, decision and control, optimization, and game theory, with applications to intelligent transportation systems, autonomy, and complex networks and infrastructures. He is the creator of Autonomy Talks (an International seminar series promoting a diverse research exchange on autonomy), as well as a lead organizer for the seminal workshops “Compositional Robotics: Mathematics and Tools”, and “Co-Design and Coordination of Future Mobility Systems” at IEEE ICRA and ITSC, respectively. He is the recipient of a paper award at the 4th Applied Category Theory Conference and of the Best Paper Award (1st Place) at the 24th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC). For more details, check out his webpage: https://gioele.science

    Host: Pierluigi Nuzzo

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Ariana Perez

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  • AAI-CCI-MHI Seminar on CPS, Wed., April. 10, 2:00 pm, EEB 248: Gioele Zardini

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Gioele Zardini, Postdoctoral Researcher

    Talk Title: Co-Design of Complex Systems: From Autonomy to Future Mobility

    Abstract: When designing complex systems, we need to consider multiple trade-offs at various abstraction levels and scales, and choices of single components need to be studied jointly. For instance, the design of future mobility solutions (e.g., autonomous vehicles, micromobility) and the design of the mobility systems they enable are closely coupled. Indeed, knowledge about the intended service of novel mobility solutions would impact their design and deployment process, while insights about their technological development could significantly affect transportation management policies. Optimally co-designing sociotechnical systems is a complex task for at least two reasons. On one hand, the co-design of interconnected systems (e.g., large networks of cyber-physical systems) involves the simultaneous choice of components arising from heterogeneous natures (e.g., hardware vs. software parts) and fields, while satisfying systemic constraints and accounting for multiple objectives. On the other hand, components are connected via collaborative and conflicting interactions between different stakeholders (e.g., within an intermodal mobility system). In this talk, I will present a framework to co-design complex systems, leveraging a monotone theory of co-design and tools from game theory. The framework will be instantiated in the task of designing future mobility systems, all the way from the policies that a city can design, to the autonomy of vehicles as part of an autonomous mobility-on-demand service. Through various case studies, I will show how the proposed approaches allow one to efficiently answer heterogeneous questions, unifying different modeling techniques and promoting interdisciplinarity, modularity, and compositionality. I will then discuss open challenges for compositional systems design optimization, and present my agenda to tackle them.  

    Biography: Gioele Zardini is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University and an incoming faculty at MIT in Fall 2024.  He received his BSc., MSc., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Robotics, Systems, and Control from ETH Zurich in 2017, 2019, and 2023 respectively. He spent time in Singapore as a researcher at nuTonomy (then Aptiv, now Motional), at Stanford University (working with Marco Pavone), and at MIT (in 2020 working with David Spivak, and in 2023 with Munther Dahleh).  Driven by societal challenges, the goal of his research is to develop efficient computational tools and algorithmic approaches to formulate and solve complex, interconnected system design and autonomous decision-making problems. His research interests include the co-design of sociotechnical systems, compositionality in engineering, applied category theory, decision and control, optimization, and game theory, with applications to intelligent transportation systems, autonomy, and complex networks and infrastructures. He is the creator of Autonomy Talks (an International seminar series promoting a diverse research exchange on autonomy), as well as a lead organizer for the seminal workshops “Compositional Robotics: Mathematics and Tools”, and “Co-Design and Coordination of Future Mobility Systems” at IEEE ICRA and ITSC, respectively. He is the recipient of a paper award at the 4th Applied Category Theory Conference and of the Best Paper Award (1st Place) at the 24th IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC). For more details, check out his webpage: https://gioele.science

    Host: Pierluigi Nuzzo

    Location: 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Ariana Perez

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  • CAIS Seminar: Nowcasting Temporal Trends Using Indirect Surveys

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Ajitesh Srivastava, USC CAIS Associate Director & Research Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Talk Title: CAIS Seminar: Nowcasting Temporal Trends Using Indirect Surveys

    Abstract: Indirect surveys, in which respondents provide information about other people they know, have been proposed for estimating (nowcasting) the size of a hidden population where privacy is important or the hidden population is hard to reach. Examples include estimating casualties in an earthquake, conditions among female sex workers, and the prevalence of drug use and infectious diseases. The Network Scaleup Method (NSUM) is the classical approach to developing estimates from indirect surveys, but it was designed for one-shot surveys. Further, it requires certain assumptions and asking for or estimating the number of individuals in each respondent’s network. In recent years, surveys have been increasingly deployed online and can collect data continuously (e.g., COVID-19 surveys on Facebook during much of the pandemic). Conventional NSUM can be applied to these scenarios by analyzing the data independently at each point in time, but this misses the opportunity of leveraging the temporal dimension. We propose to use the responses from indirect surveys collected over time and develop analytical tools (i) to prove that indirect surveys can provide better estimates for the trends of the hidden population over time, as compared to direct surveys and (ii) to identify appropriate temporal aggregations to improve the estimates. We demonstrate through extensive simulations that our approach outperforms traditional NSUM and direct surveying methods. We also empirically demonstrate the superiority of our approach on a real indirect survey dataset of COVID-19 cases.      
     
    This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.      
     
    RSVP/Register for the Zoom webinar here: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LkSI20EOQPm5npI_d8w5HA

    Biography: Dr. Ajitesh Srivastava is a USC CAIS associate director and Research Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He earned his PhD in computer science from USC. Dr. Srivastava’s research interests include social networks, algorithms, parallel computing, and machine learning applied to social good, crime, smart grids, and computer architecture.

    Host: CAIS

    More Info: https://cais.usc.edu/events/nowcasting-temporal-trends-using-indirect-surveys/

    Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LkSI20EOQPm5npI_d8w5HA

    Location: HYBRID: CPA 156 & Zoom

    WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LkSI20EOQPm5npI_d8w5HA

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: CS Events

    Event Link: https://cais.usc.edu/events/nowcasting-temporal-trends-using-indirect-surveys/

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  • VLP Writing Workshop

    VLP Writing Workshop

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Student Activity


    - Need help with WRIT 150, WRIT 340, or writing for any other course?- Looking to get feedback on a final essay, project, application or other writing?- Need a hand with your resume and cover letter for Summer job hunting?Then join the VLP for snacks & expert feedback from our Writing Consultant!The Writing Consultant is available for one-on-one writing consultations from during this event. Take advantage of the study space and snacks to power through this finals season!

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Alex Bronz

    Event Link: https://cglink.me/2nB/r396583

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  • AME Seminar

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM

    Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Michael Posa, University of Pennsylvania

    Talk Title: Do we really need all that data? Learning and control for contact-rich manipulation

    Abstract: For all the promise of big-data machine learning, what will happen when robots deploy to our homes and workplaces and inevitably encounter new objects, new tasks, and new environments? If a solution to every problem cannot be pre-trained, then robots will need to adapt to this novelty. Can a robot, instead, spend a few seconds to a few minutes gathering information and then accomplish a complex task? Why does it seem that so much data is required, anyway? I will first argue that the hybrid or contact-driven aspects of manipulation clashes with the inductive biases inherent in standard learning methods, driving this current need for large data. I will then show how contact-inspired implicit learning, embedding convex optimization, can reshape the loss landscape and enable more accurate training, better generalization, and ultimately data efficiency. Finally, I will present our latest results on how these learned models can be deployed via real-time multi-contact MPC for dexterous robotic manipulation, where the robot must autonomously make and break contact and initiate stick-slip transitions.

    Biography: Michael Posa is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania. He leads the Dynamic Autonomy and Intelligent Robotics (DAIR) lab, a group within the Penn GRASP laboratory.  His group focuses on developing computationally tractable algorithms to enable robots to operate both dynamically and safely as they interact with their environments. Michael received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 2017 and received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2007. Before his doctoral studies, he worked as an engineer at Vecna Robotics. He received the NSF CAREER Award in 2023, the RSS Early Career Spotlight in 2023, a Google Faculty Research Award, and a Young Faculty Researcher Award from the Toyota Research Institute. His work has also received awards recognition at TRO, ICRA, Humanoids, and HSCC.

    Host: AME Department

    More Info: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/

    Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95892885119?pwd=QXZOZUhrcTJRYk5qZzZwVThrTytVZz09

    Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) - 252

    WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95892885119?pwd=QXZOZUhrcTJRYk5qZzZwVThrTytVZz09

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Tessa Yao

    Event Link: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/

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  • DREAM Industry Mentorship series- Fireside Chat with Julia Boorstin

    DREAM Industry Mentorship series- Fireside Chat with Julia Boorstin

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Receptions & Special Events


    DREAM Industry Mentorship speaker series connects students with experienced industry professionals from a variety of tech and destination companies who help them create a vision for their futures, align their careers around purpose, and build character in the context of growth, reinvention, and constant change. Industry mentors discuss how professional challenges present opportunities for character and leadership development.
    This special event features a fireside chat with Julia Boorstin, CNBC Senior Media and Tech Correspondent, on her career at the intersection of media and tech with a focus on technological innovation. She will share  teachable insights from her new book When Women Lead- What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them.
    Reception to follow from 5-5:30 in the RTH breezeway. 

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 217

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Elisabeth Arnold Weiss

    Event Link: https://cglink.me/2nB/r396493

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  • KPMG Information Session

    Wed, Apr 10, 2024 @ 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    About KPMG: KPMG provides Advisory services for organizations in today's most important industries.  
     
    Food will be served!  
     
    Date: Wednesday, April 10th 2024  
     
    Time: 6:00-7:00 pm  
     
    Location: RTH211
     
     
    Please join us in learning more about our specialized group called Infrastructure & Projects Advisory, specifically in the Construction Management space, where we will soon be seeking interns and full-time candidates.
     
     
    Majors of interest: Civil Engineering; Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering Emphasis; Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering Emphasis; Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management Emphasis; Civil Engineering, Building Science Emphasis

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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  • Repeating EventAviation Safety Management Systems ASMS 24-4

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    A Safety Management System (SMS) is now required for international commercial aircraft operators, airports, and air traffic services. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the standards and implementing procedures for SMS. All 191 countries that are members of ICAO have established or are establishing regulatory requirements for the implementation of SMS. This course teaches how organizations can establish an SMS within the context of their current safety system that meets the basic international standards of ICAO. The SMS Framework serves as a central foundation for this course.
    SMS is a safety system by which an organization takes a more active role in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating safety issues that occur in the normal operation of their organization. SMS requires that organizational management take responsibility for the company’s safety program. The SMS approach requires the safety/quality team to be educated in their duties and responsibilities. This course will give you the essential skills to manage an organizational Safety Management System (SMS). The attendee will be able to manage a Safety Management System that includes risk management, audits, data collection, analysis, and incident investigations.
    This course is designed for the individual planning or directing an aviation Safety Management System program. Fundamentals in systems organization and structure provide the individual with the skills and methodology to plan and manage an effective program. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of risk management, identifying program development strategies, audits, and applying the knowledge toward effective management systems and interoperability with Quality Assurance.

    Location: Online

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AASMS4

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  • Repeating EventArtificial Intelligence System Safety AISYS 24-2

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and autonomous systems have become pervasive in software applications. However, the implications for AI safety have created new concerns and risk factors, especially for autonomous vehicles. This course thoroughly surveys AI, machine learning, optimization, and autonomous vehicle techniques, followed by safety and hazard analysis methods. Along the way, we will bring clarity to definitions, actual capabilities of AI systems, and the current state of data science. Case studies and real-world incidents will also provide learnings and insights to advance the goal of AI safety.

    Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAISYS2

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  • CS Colloquium: Z. Morley Mao - Staying Ahead of the Arms Race in Cybersecurity: Realizing Effective Attack Prevention, Detection, and Mitigation for Legacy and Future Networked Systems.

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Z. Morley Mao, University of Michigan

    Talk Title: Staying Ahead of the Arms Race in Cybersecurity: Realizing Effective Attack Prevention, Detection, and Mitigation for Legacy and Future Networked Systems.

    Abstract: The landscape of cybersecurity is a dynamic arena, characterized by an ongoing arms race between malicious actors exploiting vulnerabilities and defenders striving to safeguard systems against potential devastation. With the increasing integration of cyberphysical systems like autonomous vehicles and AI/ML technologies into our daily lives, the reactive nature of our security measures poses significant risks.   In this talk, I will articulate a forward-looking vision for cybersecurity research. Drawing upon the collective efforts of my team, I will delve into innovative approaches aimed at addressingsecurity challenges across diverse fronts. From enhancing the resilience of the time-honored DNS system to fortifying the security of ubiquitous mobile platforms, and extending to safeguarding ML-based systems within the burgeoning realms of IoT and autonomous vehicles, our focus is proactive.   Our strategy entails the construction of inherently secure systems designed to systematically eliminate vulnerabilities. We advocate for the integration of formalisms derived from disciplines such as programming languages, coupled with the provision of robust security guarantees within the very fabric of the platform architecture. Through this proactive paradigm shift, we endeavor to usher in a new era of cybersecurity resilience and reliability.   This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium

    Biography: Z. Morley Mao is a Professor at the University of Michigan, having completed her Ph.D. at UC Berkeley on robust Internet routing protocol design and effective network measurement techniques to uncover network properties with security and performance implications. She is an ACM and IEEE Fellow, a recipient of the Sloan Fellowship, the NSF CAREER Award, the ARMY YIP Award, and an IBM Faculty Award. Her other honors include the Morris Wellman Faculty Development Professor, EECS Achievement Award, College of Engineering George J. Huebner Research Excellence Award at University of Michigan.  Her recent research focus encompasses adversarial machine learning, AV security, and next generation wireless networks.

    Host: Harsha V. Madhyastha

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 136

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: CS Faculty Affairs

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  • ECE-S Seminar - Dr. Raghavendra Pothukuchi

    ECE-S Seminar - Dr. Raghavendra Pothukuchi

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

    Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Raghavendra Pothukuchi, Associate Research Scientist, Department of Computer Science, Yale University

    Talk Title: Building the Infinite Brain

    Abstract: Interfacing brains and computers helps advance our understanding of the brain and mind, treat their disorders, and when combined with artificial cognitive frameworks, can push the frontier of human ability. Realizing this goal requires new computer architectures—both close to the brain to process and stimulate neural activity, and far from the brain, to run more complex cognitive frameworks, working together. In this talk, I will present my research on the first distributed brain-computer interfacing architecture, SCALO, which processes neural activity from multiple regions of the brain in real time, while being safe for implantation. SCALO is a template for distributed multi-accelerator systems that must meet extreme design constraints. I will also describe the research into accelerating computationally hard models of human cognition, how this might require leveraging novel accelerators like quantum computers, and outline an end-to-end design connecting these with brain interfaces. Meeting the challenging constraints of brain interfacing and complex cognitive modeling required novel system design, leading to fundamental contributions to computer architecture, and sparking a virtuous cycle of innovation between computer architecture and the brain sciences.

    Biography: Raghavendra (Raghav) Pothukuchi is an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. He is an NSF/CRA Computing Innovation Fellow with Profs. Abhishek Bhattacharjee and Jonathan D. Cohen (Princeton, neuroscience). He received his Ph. D. in Computer Science (CS) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with Prof. Josep Torrellas. His research is on brain-computer interfaces, quantum and classical frameworks to accelerate cognitive models, and biologically inspired computer architectures. He also has interdisciplinary work on building intelligent and secure computer systems using control theory and machine learning. Raghav has been selected as a young researcher at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, rising star in computer architecture, and his work has been recognized with a best paper award at ISCA, two IEEE Micro Top Picks selection, a best paper nomination at PACT, and other honors.

    Host: Dr. Massoud Pedram

    More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98497384750?pwd=TE5kS1JBWklIcFIwYjdkeThUYkcrQT09

    Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98497384750?pwd=TE5kS1JBWklIcFIwYjdkeThUYkcrQT09

    More Information: 2024.04.11 ECE Seminar - Raghavendra Pothukuchi.pdf

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 248

    WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98497384750?pwd=TE5kS1JBWklIcFIwYjdkeThUYkcrQT09

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Miki Arlen

    Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98497384750?pwd=TE5kS1JBWklIcFIwYjdkeThUYkcrQT09

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  • Robotics as an Eco-Effective Contingency for Weakened Ecosystems?

    Robotics as an Eco-Effective Contingency for Weakened Ecosystems?

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Prof. Thomas Schmickl , Professor - Institute of Biology at the University of Graz, Austria

    Talk Title: Robotics as an Eco-Effective Contingency for Weakened Ecosystems?

    Abstract: Our planet is on the brink of the 6th mass extinction, as our ecosystems are rapidly losing both diversity and biomass. As intra- and inter-specific interaction networks weaken, ecosystems become increasingly unstable, setting off on a downward trajectory along a deadly spiral. In my keynote, I will explore how robotic systems can play a crucial role in supporting ecosystems and communities. I will show three levels of agency how a „tech for good“ approach might be helpful to fight ecosystem decay: Monitoring, intervention and restoration. By mitigating ecosystem decay, robots may buy us precious time to address the root causes of environmental crises. I will show innovative systems that we’ve developed over recent years — the initial strides toward going beyond mere animal-interaction systems by establishing eco-effective robotics.  
     
    This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.

    Biography: Thomas Schmickl (https://www.thomasschmickl.eu) is full professor at the Institute of Biology at the University of Graz, Austria. There he also supervises the Artificial Life Lab (https://alife.uni-graz.at), which he founded in 2007 after returning from a HHMI visiting professorship in the USA. In 2012, he was appointed the Basler Chair of Excellence at the East Tennessee State University (ETSU). His research focuses on the biology of social insects and on ecological modeling, as well as on bio-inspired engineering including swarm-, modular-, hormone-, and evolutionary- robotics. He was/is a partner in the EU-funded projects I- Swarm, Symbrion, Replicator, FloraRobotica, RoboRoyale and serves as the leading scientist and consortium coordinator of the EU grants CoCoRo, ASSISIbf, subCULTron, Atempgrad and Hiveopolis. His research seeks to improve the current state-of-the-art in robotics to allow robotic agents to be more like animals or plants, by being more adaptive, resilient, and flexible. Living organisms are parts of his targeted bio-hybrid robotic systems, with the goal to form sustainable organism-technology symbioses. In 2018, he founded the Field of Excellence COLIBRI (Complexity of Life in Basic Research & Innovation, https://colibri.uni-graz.at) at University of Graz, a network of full professors researching complexity with a focus on living systems, joining forces across various disciplines.

    Host: Prof. Wei-Min Shen, Associate Professor of Computer Science Practice

    Location: Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center (SAL) - 126

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

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  • Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Michel Sadelain, MD, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Cell Engineering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

    Talk Title: CD 19 CAR T cells: A paradigm for the living Drug Concept

    Abstract: Natural immune responses fall short of eradicating tumors in most cancer patients. The genetic engineering of T cells offers a means to repurpose immune cells to remedy these limitations. The first successful embodiment of engineered immunity is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy targeting CD19. CARs are synthetic receptors that redirect and reprogram T cells to engage and eliminate cancer cells. CARs that target CD19, a cell surface molecule found in most leukemias and lymphomas, have produced remarkable responses in patients with refractory B cell malignancies. Four CD19 CAR therapies are currently approved by the US FDA. Over 1000 CAR therapy trials are currently listed on the clinicaltrials.gov website.  Despite high complete remission rates obtained following a single CAR T cell infusion in patients with relapsed hematological malignancies, a number of patients will eventually relapse, pointing to the need to further improve CAR design and T cell engineering strategies to increase the antigen sensitivity and functional persistence of CAR T cells. Recent studies on the antigen sensitivity of CAR T cells have yielded valuable insights into the antigen density requirements and the role of scFv affinity and costimulatory structures incorporated into CARs to enhance tumor recognition and limit antigen escape. A novel family of CARs, termed HIT receptors, provides greater sensitivity, allowing to target tumors that escape conventional CARs. Logic-gated CAR T cells offer the prospect of more selective tumor targeting, exemplified by IF-BETTER gating. Novel CAR designs, such as 1XX, aim to reconcile the effector potency of CD28-based CARs with the greater T cell persistence afforded by 4-1BB based CARs. Genome editing is emerging as a valuable tool to transcriptionally control CAR expression, remodel the T cell receptor (TCR) and enable epigenetic programming to extend the functional persistence of immune effector cells.  CAR T cells thus embody a novel paradigm for immunotherapy, providing “living drugs” for patients who fail to generate effective tumor immunity through active immunization or checkpoint blockade. The success of CD19 CAR therapy in cancer further provides a foundation for evaluating CAR T cells in other pathologies such as senescence-associated disorders and autoimmunity.    

    Biography: Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD, is the Director of the Center for Cell Engineering and the incumbent of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Sadelain’s research focuses on human cell engineering and cell therapy to treat cancer and hereditary blood disorders. His laboratory has made several seminal contributions to the field of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), from design to clinical translation. His group was the first to publish dramatic molecular remissions in patients with chemorefractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia following treatment with CD19 CAR T cells.

    Host: Peter Wang, Dr. Lerman, Dr. C. Meltzer

    More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/91924460032

    Location: Harlyne J. Norris Research Tower (NRT) - Aresty Auditprium HSC

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Carla Stanard

    Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/91924460032

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  • VLP LeetCode Jam Night

    VLP LeetCode Jam Night

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    University Calendar


    Jam with the Viterbi Learning Program! Join us for a company-specific (MAANG) problems session where we code and discuss. Pizza will be provided! Space is limited! RSVP Today: https://engage.usc.edu/VLP/rsvp_boot?id=396569

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 206

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Alex Bronz

    Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/VLP/rsvp_boot?id=396569

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  • DEN@Viterbi: How to Apply Virtual Info Session

    Thu, Apr 11, 2024 @ 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM

    DEN@Viterbi, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Join USC Viterbi representatives for a step-by-step guide and tips for how to apply for formal admission into a Master's degree or Graduate Certificate program. The session is intended for individuals who wish to pursue a graduate degree program completely online via USC Viterbi's flexible online DEN@Viterbi delivery method. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect directly with USC Viterbi representatives and ask questions about the admission process throughout the session. 

    WebCast Link: https://uscviterbi.webex.com/weblink/register/r233919315bf012a65be59dd7e2ed928d

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Corporate & Professional Programs

    Event Link: https://uscviterbi.webex.com/weblink/register/r233919315bf012a65be59dd7e2ed928d

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  • Aviation Safety Management Systems ASMS 24-4

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    A Safety Management System (SMS) is now required for international commercial aircraft operators, airports, and air traffic services. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established the standards and implementing procedures for SMS. All 191 countries that are members of ICAO have established or are establishing regulatory requirements for the implementation of SMS. This course teaches how organizations can establish an SMS within the context of their current safety system that meets the basic international standards of ICAO. The SMS Framework serves as a central foundation for this course. SMS is a safety system by which an organization takes a more active role in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating safety issues that occur in the normal operation of their organization. SMS requires that organizational management take responsibility for the company’s safety program. The SMS approach requires the safety/quality team to be educated in their duties and responsibilities. This course will give you the essential skills to manage an organizational Safety Management System (SMS). The attendee will be able to manage a Safety Management System that includes risk management, audits, data collection, analysis, and incident investigations. This course is designed for the individual planning or directing an aviation Safety Management System program. Fundamentals in systems organization and structure provide the individual with the skills and methodology to plan and manage an effective program. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles of risk management, identifying program development strategies, audits, and applying the knowledge toward effective management systems and interoperability with Quality Assurance.

    Location: Online

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AASMS4

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  • Artificial Intelligence System Safety AISYS 24-2

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Aviation Safety and Security Program

    University Calendar


    Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and autonomous systems have become pervasive in software applications. However, the implications for AI safety have created new concerns and risk factors, especially for autonomous vehicles. This course thoroughly surveys AI, machine learning, optimization, and autonomous vehicle techniques, followed by safety and hazard analysis methods. Along the way, we will bring clarity to definitions, actual capabilities of AI systems, and the current state of data science. Case studies and real-world incidents will also provide learnings and insights to advance the goal of AI safety.

    Location: Century Boulevard Building (CBB) - 920

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Daniel Scalese

    Event Link: https://avsafe.usc.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=24AAISYS2

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  • Repeating EventEiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Viterbi Ph.D. students are invited to stop by the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one instruction for their academic and professional communications tasks. All instruction is provided by Viterbi faculty at the Engineering in Society Program.

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A

    Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students

    View All Dates

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home?authuser=0

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  • Repeating EventEiS Communications Hub Drop-In Hours

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

    Engineering in Society Program

    Student Activity


    Drop-in hours for writing and speaking support for Viterbi Ph.D. students

    Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    View All Dates

    Contact: Helen Choi

    Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home

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  • Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 11:50 PM

    Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Tim Swager, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, MIT

    Talk Title: Optical and Electronic Biosensors from Chemistry on Dynamic Colloids

    Abstract: This lecture will focus on the design of systems that make use of colloidal materials to create sensors. In one theme, we make use of the reconfiguration of complex liquid emulsions (droplets) and related materials can be triggered chemically, biochemically, or with magnetic fields. Complex liquid droplets behave as optical lens systems and small changes in surface tensions can change focal lengths or cause systems to switch between optically transmissive or scattering states. Central to this scheme is that the fluids in the droplets have different densities and hence are aligned by the earth’s gravity. The induced optical changes can be triggered with chemical, photochemical, or biochemical stimuli and thereby create new generations of sensors. Demonstrations of these methods for the detection of enzyme concentrations, pathogens, and antibodies will be presented. In other efforts, we have used complex colloids to create functionalized versions of polymers that would ordinarily be insoluble and impossible to uniformly functionalize and create high quality nanocomposites. Thiol-Michael reactions were found to be highly efficient on different forms of poly(aniline) and poly(pyrrole). Functionalized poly(pyrrole)s can be deposited on porous cellulosic materials and we have used bioconjugated variants to create new generations of electronic lateral flow assays that are intrinsically quantitative and highly sensitive. These assays can be smart phone readable and promise to greatly expand the utility of this class of biosensors.

    Biography: Timothy M. Swager is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A native of Montana, he received a BS from Montana State University in 1983 and a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in 1988. After a postdoctoral appointment at MIT he joined University of Pennsylvania 1990-1996 and returned to MIT in 1996 as a Professor of Chemistry and served as the Head of Chemistry from 2005-2010. He has published more than 550 peer-reviewed papers and more than 120 issued/pending patents. Swager’s honors include: Election to the National Academy of Sciences, an Honorary Doctorate from Montana State University, National Academy of Inventors Fellow, The Pauling Medal, The Lemelson-MIT Award for Invention and Innovation, and Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research interests are in design, synthesis, and study of organic-based electronic, sensory, energy storage, membranes, liquid crystals, and colloids. He has founded five companies (DyNuPol, Iptyx, PolyJoule, C¬2 Sense and Xibus Systems).

    Host: Maral Mousavi

    Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 100 B

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Carla Stanard

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  • AI Seminar- Human and Machine Conditions Favoring Innovation in Science

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Information Sciences Institute

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Brian Uzzi, Northwestern University.

    Talk Title: Human and Machine Conditions Favoring Innovation in Science

    Series: AI Seminar

    Abstract: Innovation involves recombining past knowledge. The increasing rate at which scientific knowledge is expanding should bode well for innovation. Nevertheless, problems related to creating replicable science and appraising the merits of new ideas threaten innovation. In study 1, we use artificial intelligence to examine the replication problem in science. We estimate a paper’s replicability using ground truth, manual replication data, and then test the model’s accuracy on an extensive set of out-of-sample studies. The model’s accuracy is better than reviewer base rates and on par with prediction markets. We then conduct a discipline-wide census of replicability in psychology for the past 20 years. Replicability failures varies widely by subfield and is highest for experimental studies and papers receiving media coverage. In study 2, we investigate how the merits of innovative ideas communicated in science. Here we conduct semantic analyses of grant application success with a focus on scientific promotional language, which purportedly helps to convey an innovative idea’s originality. Our analysis examines the full text of tens of thousands of both funded and unfunded grants from three leading public and private funding agencies. We find promotional language in a grant proposal is associated with up to a doubling in its probability of being funded, with a grant’s intrinsic innovativeness, and with its predicted citation impact and productivity. Lastly, a computer experiments that substitute a grant’s promotional language with neutral synonyms indicates that promotional language may communicate the merits of ideas through cognitive activation.

    Biography: Brian Uzzi the Richard L. Thomas Distinguished Professor of Leadership at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He also is Co-Director of the Northwestern University Institute on Complex Systems and Data Science (NICO), holds professorship in sociology and the McCormick School of Engineering, and writes a column on AI and business for Forbes. Brian’s work focuses on the link between social networks and human achievement and the role of AI in mind + machine partnerships. Brian has been awarded over 30 teaching and research prizes worldwide, including the Euler Award. He has been on the faculties of Harvard, INSEAD, University of Chicago, and Berkeley, and is a Fellow of the Network Science Society. His work has been funded by DARPA, NSF, and other foundations, is widely cited, and appears frequently in major media outlets worldwide. Before entering science, Brian worked as a carpenter and a musician. His PhD is from Stony Brook University in sociology.

    Host: Zhuoyu Shi and Karen Lake

    More Info: https://www.isi.edu/events/4641/ai-seminar-human-and-machine-conditions-favoring-innovation-in-science/

    Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95888595423?pwd=VHBLa041dUJWcWx0NEhuYmQrV29ZQT09

    Location: Information Science Institute (ISI) - Virtual Only

    WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95888595423?pwd=VHBLa041dUJWcWx0NEhuYmQrV29ZQT09

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Pete Zamar

    Event Link: https://www.isi.edu/events/4641/ai-seminar-human-and-machine-conditions-favoring-innovation-in-science/

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  • Revolutionizing Digital Infrastructure: The Beckn Protocol and the Era of Digital Public Goods

    Revolutionizing Digital Infrastructure: The Beckn Protocol and the Era of  Digital Public Goods

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Sujith Nair, CEO & Co-Founder, FIDE

    Talk Title: Revolutionizing Digital Infrastructure: The Beckn Protocol and the Era of Digital Public Goods

    Series: USC Viterbi Speaker Event

    Abstract: The digital age has brought about unprecedented opportunities for innovation and connectivity, transforming the way societies function and interact. In this landscape, the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPG) concept has emerged as a crucial framework for leveraging technology to address societal challenges and empower communities.
     
    This talk explores the groundbreaking potential of DPI and DPG and highlights the pivotal role played by the Beckn Protocol in catalyzing a new wave of innovation in this domain. The Beckn Protocol, an open protocol for decentralized service marketplaces, is reshaping traditional approaches to public infrastructure by fostering collaboration, interoperability, and accessibility.
     
    By enabling seamless interaction between service providers and consumers, the Beckn Protocol facilitates the creation of vibrant digital ecosystems that empower individuals and communities to access essential services efficiently and affordably. Moreover, its decentralized architecture ensures transparency, security, and resilience, laying the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive digital economy.
     
    Through real-world examples and case studies, this talk will illustrate how the Beckn Protocol is driving transformative change across various sectors, including transportation, healthcare, education, and commerce. From enabling decentralized ride-sharing platforms to facilitating seamless access to healthcare services, the Beckn Protocol exemplifies the potential of DPI and DPG to address pressing societal needs and foster sustainable development.
     
    Furthermore, the talk will delve into the broader implications of the Beckn Protocol's approach, exploring how it aligns with principles of open innovation, data sovereignty, and digital rights. By promoting collaboration and co-creation, the Beckn Protocol embodies a paradigm shift towards a more participatory and democratic model of governance, where individuals and communities are empowered to shape the digital infrastructure that underpins their daily lives.
     
    In conclusion, this talk will highlight the transformative potential of the Beckn Protocol and its role in catalyzing a new era of Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Public Goods. By embracing openness, collaboration, and inclusivity, the Beckn Protocol offers a compelling vision for harnessing the power of technology to build a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
     

    Biography: Sujith Nair is the CEO and Co-founder of FIDE – Foundation for Interoperability in Digital Economy. This not-for-profit organisation is the genesis author and angel donor to an open-source initiative called the Beckn Protocol. Beckn enables the creation of decentralised digital economy ecosystems.  Co-founded along with Nandan Nilekani and Dr Pramod Varma,  FIDE has been helping Beckn Protocol evolve as an independent and large-scale open-source community effort focusing on its adoption and sustenance as a digital public good.
     
    Sujith conceptualised and helped set up the world’s first decentralised open mobility network using the Beckn Protocol in Kochi called the Kochi Open Mobility Network (KOMN), which was launched in July 2021. Sujith co-conceptualised the idea of ONDC and onboarded the first set of market participants on ONDC, co-authored the ONDC Strategy Pape, and was instrumental in the setup of ONDC Ltd in Dec 2021.
     
    Sujith continues volunteering for KOMN, ONDC, and other open network initiatives and is a global advocate for interoperable and decentralized digital ecosystems. Before FIDE, Sujith headed Management Consulting practices and Internet businesses in urban mobility and digital payments.  Sujith has contributed to many key interventions in the Aadhaar program between 2010-2012. Sujith also designed India’s national transit open payments interoperability (One Nation, One Card) in 2014 to integrate ticketing and payments across public transport systems in the country.
     

    Host: Vice Dean Cauligi Raghavendra

    More Information: beckn_flyer 4.12.24 EEB 248 2pm.pdf

    Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Raymond USC Viterbi

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  • Viterbi Student Engagement Celebration

    Fri, Apr 12, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 08:00 PM

    USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Receptions & Special Events


    This event is a showcase of Viterbi Admission & Student Engagement departments, Viterbi-Affiliated Student Organizations, and Viterbi undergraduate and masters students presenting research at conferences.



    Important Links:

    Location: Sign into EngageSC to View Location

    Audiences:

    Contact: Kevin Giang

    Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/viterbi/rsvp?id=396460

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