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Events for the 5th week of October
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EiS Communications Hub - Tutoring for Engineering Ph.D. StudentsMon, Oct 28, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Come to the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one tutoring from Viterbi faculty for Ph.D. writing and speaking projects!
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A
Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home
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CSC/CommNetS-MHI Seminar: Jorge Cortes
Mon, Oct 28, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Jorge Cortes, Professor and Cymer Corporation Endowed Chair in High Performance Dynamic Systems Modeling and Control | Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego
Talk Title: The safe gradient flow: a system-theoretic approach to anytime constrained optimization through control barrier functions
Series: CSC/CommNetS-MHI Seminar Series
Abstract: Problems where the solution to a constrained optimization problem is used to regulate a physical process modeled as a dynamically evolving plant arise in multiple application areas, including safety-critical control, power networks, traffic networks, and network congestion. This may take the form of providing setpoints, specifying optimization-based controllers, or steering the system toward an optimal steady state. A paradigmatic example is the use of CBF-based quadratic programs for controller synthesis in robotics. In this talk, we are motivated by situations where the problem incorporates constraints which, when violated, threaten the safe operation of the physical system. In such cases, the algorithm that solves the optimization must be anytime, meaning that it is guaranteed to return a feasible point even when terminated before it has converged to a solution. We introduce a class of novel system-theoretic algorithms for solving constrained nonlinear programs that combine continuous-time gradient flows to optimize the objective function with techniques from control barrier functions to maintain forward invariance of the feasible set. We refer to the resulting closed-loop system as the safe gradient flow. We draw on the alternative interpretation of the safe gradient flow as a projected dynamical system to characterize its dynamical properties regarding regularity, stability, convergence, contractivity, and invariance. We also show how the proposed framework is conducive to the extension of the proposed designs to monotone variational inequalities and discrete-time settings.
Biography: Jorge Cortes is a Professor and Cymer Corporation Endowed Chair in High Performance Dynamic Systems Modeling and Control in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego. He is the author of "Geometric, Control and Numerical Aspects of Nonholonomic Systems" (New York: Springer-Verlag, 2002) and co-author of "Distributed Control of Robotic Networks” (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009). He is a Fellow of IEEE, SIAM, and IFAC. He has co-authored papers that have won the 2008 and the 2021 IEEE Control Systems Outstanding Paper Award, the 2009 SIAM Review SIGEST selection from the SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization, the 2012 O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award in the Theory category, and the 2019 and 2023 IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems Outstanding Paper Award. At the IEEE Control Systems Society, he has been a Distinguished Lecturer (2010-2014), an elected member (2018-2020) of the Board of Governors, and Director of Operations (2019-2022) of its Executive Committee. His research interests include distributed control and optimization, network science and complex systems, resource-aware control and coordination, distributed decision making and autonomy, network neuroscience, and multi-agent coordination in robotic, power, and transportation networks.
Host: Dr. Lars Lindemann, llindema@usc.edu
More Information: 2024.10.28 CSC Seminar - Jorge Cortes.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - EEB 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Miki Arlen
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Epstein Institute, ISE 651 Seminar Class
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Yunhe Hou, Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Hong Kong
Talk Title: Building Sustainable and Resilient Energy Systems: Challenges and Current Progress
Host: Dr. Jong-Shi Pang
More Information: Flyer 651 Dr. Yunhe Hou 10.29.24.png
Location: Social Sciences Building (SOS) - B2
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Casi Jones/ ISE
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Viterbi - Increase Your Salary: Evaluation & Negotiating Your Job/Internship Offer
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 @ 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
This event is for Viterbi engineering students only. Please register through Handshake.
Ready to excel in your next job interview and make a lasting impression leading to a job offer? Join Viterbi Career Connections for "Interview Success: How to Make a Lasting Impression," an interactive workshop designed to increase your knowledge, help you gain interviewing skills, and stand out.
In this interactive session, you will:
Learn strategies to stand out to employers and be memorable.
Gain insight about various interview types (phone, virtual, in-person), what to expect, and how to excel in any of them.
Discover research techniques to gather information about the company and its role.
Use the STAR method to structure answers to behavioral questions.
Get tips on professional attire, body language, and etiquette.
Understand the importance of post-interview follow-up and how to write a thank-you note that makes you memorable.
Participate in an exercise to practice responding to common interview questions, highlighting your skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
Walk away with action items and resources directly impacting your interview success.
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections
Event Link: https://usc.joinhandshake.com/
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PhD Dissertation Defense - Yizhou Zhang
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 @ 04:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
University Calendar
Title: Towards Combatting Coordinated Manipulation to Online Public Opinions on Social Media
Location: KAP 138
Date and Time: October 29th, 2024: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Committee Members: Yan Liu (Chair), Jieyu Zhao, and Kimon Drakopoulos
Abstract: Over the recent years, public opinions and online credibility have been suffering from the manipulation of campaigns that control malicious accounts to document and spread misinformation with specific narratives such as Fake News and Conspiracies. Such campaigns, also known as misinformation campaigns, are increasingly threatening various areas related to public opinions and decisions, such as politics and public health. Such threats, prominent in highly scrutinized societal events like the U.S. Presidential Elections and the COVID-19 pandemic, have significantly undermined societal trust and public interests. My thesis will discuss how to exploit machine learning to discover knowledge and skills that are helpful for combating these aforementioned social manipulation. More specifically, my thesis will present my research attempts to apply machine learning algorithms in three directions: Manipulation Source Identification, Susceptible Population Recognition and Automated Authenticity Verification. To identify the online manipulation from misinformation campaigns, my collaborators and I developed a series of neural temporal point process models that can recognize patterns of coordinated manipulators with data-driven learning and domain knowledge. To recognize users that are susceptible to specific misinformation, we developed a counterfactual neural network that can estimate the causal effect of a piece of misinformation on an individual user or a group of population. To complete our target on automated authenticity verification, we make use of the advances of Large Language Models (LLM), which can serve for generating a clarification for misinformation and reference for true information. To achieve this goal, more work on developing robust prompting engineering strategies is conducted to prevent the LLM from being deceived by the misinformation when verifying the genuineness of given text.Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 138
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Yizhou Zhang
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Viterbi - Accenture Technology Showcase
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 @ 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
This event is for Viterbi Engineering students only, non-Viterbi students will not be admitted.
Only RSVP if you meet the below recruiting criteria: Register through Handshake.
Degree Levels: Bachelors, Masters
Majors: Computer Engineering, Computer Science , Cybersecurity, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Health, Technology, & Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Systems Architecting & Engineering
Citizenship: U.S. Citizens
If the RSVP is full, join the waitlist. Drop-ins are welcome, and will be let in if capacity for the event is not already reached.
Join us for an exciting showcase of cutting-edge technology at our upcoming Accenture Technology Showcase presented by Roy Padmanabhan! This event will feature a diverse range of innovative technologies and projects that are shaping the future of the digital landscape.Discover the latest advancements in technology from interactive demos to insightful presentations, this event will offer a firsthand glimpse into the world of technology and its endless possibilities.Whether you are a tech enthusiast, a curious learner, or simply someone interested in the future of technology, this showcase is the perfect opportunity to explore, engage, and connect with the brightest minds in the field.Don't miss this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of technology and be inspired by the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Join us at the Accenture Technology Showcase and be a part of the digital revolution!
IMPORTANT: Event check-in is first come, first serve and event capacity is 80 people. If you are signing up for the event, it is the expectation that you attend the event or cancel if you are no longer able to attend.
Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Viterbi Career Connections at vcareers@usc.edu">vcareers@usc.edu or (213) 740-9677. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections
Event Link: https://usc.joinhandshake.com/
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Viterbi - BIOTRONIK Recruiting Session
Tue, Oct 29, 2024 @ 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections
Workshops & Infosessions
This event is for Viterbi engineering students only. Only RSVP if you meet the below recruiting criteria:
Degree Levels: Bachelors, Masters
Majors: Biomedical Engineering, Health, Technology, & Engineering
Citizenship: U.S. Citizens
Are you ready to dive into the world of cutting-edge medical technology and make a direct impact on patient care? Join us for an exciting information session with BIOTRONIK, a global leader in innovative medical devices, as we explore the exciting opportunities available in the Field Clinical Specialist role!
What to Expect:
Role Insights: Discover the exciting responsibilities and day-to-day activities of a Field Clinical Specialist.
Company Overview: Learn what makes BIOTRONIK unique—our mission, our values, and the groundbreaking technologies we’re developing to revolutionize healthcare.
Career Pathways: Find out about the growth opportunities and career development within BIOTRONIK. Hear firsthand experiences and inspiring stories from our current Field Clinical Specialists.
Interactive Q&A: Get your questions answered by our team of experts and learn all you need to know about the role, the company, and our hiring process.
Why Attend?
Networking: Build valuable connections with BIOTRONIK representatives and potential future colleagues.
Exclusive Insights: Gain deeper knowledge about the Field Clinical Specialist role and what sets BIOTRONIK apart in the medical device industry.
Career Opportunities: Explore dynamic career paths and discover how you can contribute to life-changing medical innovations.
Recruiting Graduating Seniors: We’re actively looking for graduating seniors to join us as full-time Field Clinical Specialists. If you're ready to launch your career, this is your chance to step into a dynamic, impactful role right after graduation!
Jumpstart Your Career: Attending this session could be your first step towards landing an interview with BIOTRONIK for an exciting future in healthcare technology.
Who Should Attend?
This session is perfect for any students who are passionate about clinical roles, medical technology, and advancing patient care through innovation. If you’re eager to make a difference, we want to meet you!
IMPORTANT: Event check-in is first come, first serve and event capacity is 50 people. If you are signing up for the event, it is the expectation that you attend the event or cancel if you are no longer able to attend.Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections
Event Link: https://usc.joinhandshake.com/
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EiS Communications Hub - Tutoring for Engineering Ph.D. Students
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Come to the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one tutoring from Viterbi faculty for Ph.D. writing and speaking projects!
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A
Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home
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IEEE-GRSS-APS-SSCS Joint seminar - Stefano Maci, Wed. Oct. 30th at 10am in RTH 211 and Zoom
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Prof. Stefano Maci, IEEE AP-S Past President, University of Sienna, Italy
Talk Title: Metasurface Antennas
Series: IEEE GRSS-APS-SSCS
Abstract: Metasurfaces belong to the category of thin metamaterials and find applications across a wide frequency range, from microwaves to optical frequencies, for developing innovative electromagnetic engineering devices. These surfaces are created by densely arranging small elements on or etching them into a dielectric substrate in a locally periodic distribution. By adjusting the dimensions of these elements while maintaining sub-wavelength 2D periodicity, a pixelated visual appearance and an electromagnetic modulation of the equivalent local impedance boundary conditions (IBC) are achieved. The manipulation of IBC allows for localized modifications in the dispersion equation, influencing the local wavevector while maintaining a constant operating frequency. This capability enables the transformation of surface or guided waves into various wavefield configurations with specified properties. This presentation will focus on the control of both surface waves and space waves, showcasing examples such as the design of high-gain, low cross-polarization antennas, multibeam antennas, and scanning beam flat lenses. Emphasis will be given to space applications. The discussion will also delve into the third generation of adaptive metasurfaces (MTSs), featuring dynamically reconfigurable boundary conditions. This advancement opens possibilities for exploring new perspectives in the development of next-generation wireless communication systems.
Biography: Prof. Stefano Maci is a Professor at the University of Siena (UNISI). Since 2000, he has been P.I. of 10 research projects funded by the European Union (EU) and by the European Space Agency (ESA). He is a Fellow of IEEE since 2004. In 2004 he founded the European School of Antennas (ESoA), a PhD school that presently comprises 35 courses on Antennas, Propagation, and Electromagnetic Theory, and 200 teachers, among them 20 IEEE Fellow. He has been advisor of 40 PhD students. He has been former member of IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) AdCom, the Chair of the Award Committee of the IEEE AP-S, member of the AP Executive Board of IET (UK), Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE and of EurAAP. He was recipient of several prizes and awards, among which the EurAAP Award 2014, the Chen-To Tai Distinguished Educator award 2016, of the Shelkunoff Transaction Prize in 2015, and of the URSI Dellinger Gold Medal in 2020. He is presently Director of ESoA. He has been TPC Chair of the METAMATERIAL 2020 and and General Chair of EuCAP 2023. He was the president of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society 2023. In the last ten years he has been invited 60 times as key-note speaker in international conferences. His research activity is documented in 200 papers published in international journals, (among which 100 on IEEE journals), 10 book chapters, and about 450 papers in proceedings of international conferences.
Host: IEEE GRSS-APS-SSCS Joint Student Chapter
More Info: Meeting ID: 925 1030 8883, Passcode: 613281
More Information: IEEE Stefano Maci.pdf
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: Meeting ID: 925 1030 8883, Passcode: 613281
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Computer Science General Faculty Meeting
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Receptions & Special Events
Bi-Weekly regular faculty meeting for invited full-time Computer Science faculty and staff only. Event details emailed directly to attendees.
Location: Ginsburg Hall (GCS) - 107
Audiences: Invited Faculty Only
Contact: Julia Mittenberg-Beirao
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Language Models as Temporary Training Wheels to Improve Mental Health
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Tim Althoff, Assistant Professor, Allen School of Computer Science - University of Washington
Talk Title: Language Models as Temporary Training Wheels to Improve Mental Health
Abstract: Access to mental health care falls short of meeting the significant need. More than one billion individuals are affected by mental health conditions, with the majority not receiving the necessary treatment. In this talk, I will describe how human-AI collaboration, critically enabled by language models, can improve access to and quality of mental health support. Language models have the potential to act as temporary training wheels providing immediate support and guidance to help individuals develop essential mental health skills. This approach emphasizes the importance of using these tools as initial aids rather than long-term crutches. By offering structured assistance, practice, and feedback, language models can help individuals and professionals learn skills, such as cognitive reframing, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution. However, the ultimate goal is for individuals to gradually transition away from dependence on these models, fostering sustained skill development and long-term well-being. This talk will describe how language models can be developed towards these aims and evaluate their effectiveness across multiple randomized trials and real-world deployments with over 150,000 participants.
Learn to challenge unhelpful thinking with your personal AI assistant at https://bit.ly/changing-thoughts
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.
Register for Zoom webinar here: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IFvScow2St2noJndL8FucA
Biography: Tim Althoff is an associate professor in the Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington. Tim’s research seeks to better understand and empower people through data and computation. His AI research has directly improved mental health services utilized by over ten million people and informed federal policy. Tim holds a Ph.D. degree from the Computer Science Department at Stanford University. His work has received various awards including WWW, 2x ICWSM, ACL, UbiComp, and IMIA Best Paper Awards, the SIGKDD Dissertation Award 2019, and an NSF CAREER Award. Tim’s research has been covered internationally by news outlets including BBC, CNN, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Host: CAIS
More Info: https://cais.usc.edu/events/usc-cais-seminar-with-dr-tim-althoff/
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IFvScow2St2noJndL8FucALocation: Zoom Webinar
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IFvScow2St2noJndL8FucA
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Hailey Winetrobe Nadel, MPH, CHES
Event Link: https://cais.usc.edu/events/usc-cais-seminar-with-dr-tim-althoff/
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PhD Thesis Proposal - Yi Zheng
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
University Calendar
Title: Heuristic Search Techniques for Virtual Network Embedding
Date: October 30, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Location: EEB 403
Committee Members: Satish Kumar Thittamaranahalli (chair), Sven Koenig (main advisor), Ramesh Govindan, Bhaskar Krishnamachari, Ketan Dungarshi Savla
Abstract: Virtualization is the mechanism of creating virtual representations of physical resources and is widely used in data centers and cloud computing services. It relies on the Virtual Network Embedding (VNE) problem: the cornerstone task of properly allocating the physical resources on a network to satisfy virtual requests for resources under various constraints while ensuring the quality of service. Combinatorially, the VNE problem is NP-hard to solve optimally. I hypothesize that the VNE problem can be solved efficiently and effectively in practice with the help of AI search techniques imported from the Multi-Agent Path Finding (MAPF) domain. My current work in this direction has shown that the resulting solvers can significantly outperform other state-of-the-art VNE algorithms in both solution quality and scalability. Overall, my work paves the way for using AI search techniques to address critical combinatorial problems in network resource management.Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 403
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Ellecia Williams
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AAI-CCI-MHI Seminar on CPS
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Anushri Dixit, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles
Talk Title: Perceive with Confidence: Statistical Safety Assurances for Vision-based Navigation
Series: EE598 Seminar Series
Abstract: Significant strides in perception over the past few years have enabled robotic systems to interpret and interact with the world in increasingly versatile ways. The large, often multi-modal, datasets that are used to train modern perception systems endow robots with capabilities for scene understanding like object detection and segmentation. However, the safe integration and reliability of these learned perception models for robotic applications still remains in question due to their failures in unfamiliar environments. In this talk, I will discuss our framework, Perceive with Confidence (PwC), for rigorously quantifying the uncertainty of a pre-trained obstacle detection system in a way that provides a formal assurance on correctness and safety for planning applications. This is achieved by utilizing a technique called conformal prediction to calibrate the perceptual outputs while ensuring generalization to novel environments. I will provide experimental validations of PwC’s formal assurances for indoor navigation applications on the Unitree Go1 quadruped.
Biography: Anushri Dixit is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to UCLA, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University. She received her Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems from California Institute of Technology in 2023 and her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2017. Her research focuses on motion planning and control of robots in unstructured environments while accounting for uncertainty in a principled manner. Her work on risk-aware methodologies for planning has been deployed on various robotic platforms as a part of Team CoSTAR’s effort in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge. She has received the Outstanding Student Paper Award at the Conference on Decision and Control, Best Student Paper Award at the Conference of Robot Learning, and was selected as a Rising Star in Data Science by The University of Chicago.
Host: Stephen Tu
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Ariana Perez
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WIE Crowdstrike- Making waves in Cybersecurity
Wed, Oct 30, 2024 @ 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Workshops & Infosessions
Are you interested in a career in Consulting, UI Engineering, Threat Intelligence or Program Management? Join us with CrowdStrike to hear from women making waves in the cybersecurity, sharing their expertise, insights, and experiences. Dinner will be provided!
Location: Sign into EngageSC to View Location
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Thelma Federico Zaragoza
Event Link: https://engage.usc.edu/WIE/rsvp?id=400617
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NL Seminar-InterIntent Investigating Social Intelligence of LLMs via Intention Understanding in a Game context
Thu, Oct 31, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Information Sciences Institute
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Ziyi Liu, USC
Talk Title: InterIntent Investigating Social Intelligence of LLMs via Intention Understanding in a Game Context
Abstract: REMINDER: Meeting hosts only admit on-line guests that they know to the Zoom meeting. Hence, you’re highly encouraged to use your USC account to sign into Zoom. If you’re an outside visitor, please inform us at (nlg-seminar-host(at)isi.edu) to make us aware of your attendance so we can admit you. Specify if you will attend remotely or in person at least one business day prior to the event Provide your: full name, job title and professional affiliation and arrive at least 10 minutes before the seminar begins. If you do not have access to the 6th Floor for in-person attendance, please check in at the 10th floor main reception desk to register as a visitor and someone will escort you to the conference room location. Zoom Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/95325436571?pwd=NMJIFIQNQ01esvL9UffxxIp4dnSCmF.1Meeting ID: 953 2543 6571/Passcode: 985321 Abstract: Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated the potential to mimic human social intelligence. However, most studies focus on simplistic and static self-report or performance-based tests, which limits the depth and validity of the analysis. In this paper, we developed a novel framework, INTERINTENT, to assess LLMs’ social intelligence by mapping their ability to understand and manage intentions in a game setting. We focus on four dimensions of social intelligence: situational awareness, self-regulation, self-awareness, and theory of mind. Each dimension is linked to a specific game task: intention selection, intention following, intention summarization, and intention guessing. Our findings indicate that while LLMs exhibit high proficiency in selecting intentions, achieving an accuracy of 88%, their ability to infer the intentions of others is significantly weaker, trailing human performance by 20%. Additionally, game performance correlates with intention understanding, highlighting the importance of the four components towards success in this game. These findings underline the crucial role of intention understanding in evaluating LLMs’ social intelligence and highlight the potential of using social deduction games as a complex testbed to enhance LLM evaluation. INTERINTENT contributes a structured approach to bridging the evaluation gap in social intelligence within multiplayer games.
Biography: Ziyi Liu is a second-year PhD student at the University of Southern California, advised by Professor Jieyu Zhao in LIME Lab. Previously, she earned her master’s degree at USC and was a Research Assistant in USC ISI’s Ink Lab for two years under the guidance of Professor Xiang Ren. Her research focuses on social intelligence and hallucination detection in human-LLM interactions, particularly in evaluating LLM behaviors and aligning LLM values with those of humans. Her work is driven by two key questions: (1) How can we make interactions between models and humans more seamless? (2) How can we ensure the faithfulness of LLMs and avoid hallucinations during interactions?
Host: Jonathan May and Katy Felkner
More Info: https://www.isi.edu/research-groups-nlg/nlg-seminars/
Webcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfeHKahMoILocation: Information Science Institute (ISI) - Conf Rm#689
WebCast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfeHKahMoI
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Pete Zamar
Event Link: https://www.isi.edu/research-groups-nlg/nlg-seminars/
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AIF4S Seminar: Value of Pretraining Data: Scaling Laws for Downstream Task Performance of Large Language Models
Thu, Oct 31, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Berivan Isik, Research Scientist, Google, Inc.
Talk Title: Value of Pretraining Data: Scaling Laws for Downstream Task Performance of Large Language Models
Abstract: This talk explores the challenges and open questions surrounding the value of pretraining data for large language models (LLMs) in transfer learning settings. While scaling laws have provided valuable insights for LLM design, existing work has predominantly focused on pretraining loss. In contrast, this work investigates scaling behavior in a transfer learning setting where LLMs are finetuned for downstream tasks. Specifically, we examine how the choice and size of pretraining data impact downstream performance, as measured by cross-entropy and translation quality metrics such as BLEU and COMET. Our experiments reveal that the size of the finetuning dataset and the alignment between pretraining and downstream data significantly influence scaling behavior. With sufficient alignment, both cross-entropy and translation quality improve with increased pretraining data, and we demonstrate the ability to predict translation quality using a new log-law. However, in cases of moderate misalignment, we observe that translation quality can fluctuate or even deteriorate with more pretraining data, despite consistent improvements in cross-entropy. Through analysis of these findings, we provide insights for selecting appropriate pretraining data. The talk will conclude with a discussion of future research directions and remaining open questions in this area.
Biography: Berivan Isik is a research scientist at Google, working on efficient and trustworthy AI. Her current interests are efficient training/finetuning of large models, pretraining data valuation and scaling laws for LLMs, differential privacy, and unlearning. She earned her PhD from Stanford University in 2024, where she was affiliated with the SAIL and StatsML groups. Her research was supported by Stanford Graduate Fellowship (2019-2023), Google Ph.D. Fellowship (2023-2026), and a Meta research grant.
Host: Dr. Mahdi Soltanolkotbi, soltanol@usc.edu
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98648507063?pwd=kORhNLFVMLol7FYlHv6TsAmqcKqD7t.1Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/98648507063?pwd=kORhNLFVMLol7FYlHv6TsAmqcKqD7t.1
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mayumi Thrasher
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PhD Dissertation Defense - Fei Wang
Thu, Oct 31, 2024 @ 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
University Calendar
Title: Developing Robust and Controllable (Multimodal) Large Language Models
Date and Time: Thur, Oct 31, 2024 @ 3:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Location: RTH 211
Zoom Link: https://usc.zoom.us/my/feiwangnlp
Committee members: Aram Galstyan (Chair), Muhao Chen, Laurent Itti, Dan O’Leary
Abstract: As (multimodal) large language models (LLMs) become integral to intelligent systems, they are increasingly used in scenarios ranging from everyday applications to high-stakes domains such as healthcare, finance, and law. Consequently, there is a growing urgency to enhance the robustness and controllability of these models and mitigate critical risks in their development and deployment. This dissertation talk will introduce methods to ensure responsible outcomes from (multimodal) LLMs through three key perspectives: (1) dynamic integration of up-to-date and domain-specific knowledge, (2) robust alignment with human intents, preferences, and values, and (3) precise control over model behavior to ensure compliance with task constraints, authorization protocols, and safety requirements.Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 211
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Ellecia Williams
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Preview Day - Viterbi Graduate Admission
Fri, Nov 01, 2024 @ 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering Graduate Admission
Receptions & Special Events
Preview Day is the Viterbi School’s annual visitation day for students interested in pursuing a Master’s or PhD in Engineering & Computer Science. Attendees will: meet with engineering faculty, staff and current students; learn more about our graduate programs; and tour campus and labs.
Location: Town & Gown (TGF) -
Audiences: Prospective Viterbi Graduate Students
Contact: Maria Sandone
Event Link: https://viterbigradadmission.usc.edu/events/mspreview/
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PhD Defense - Kay Shen
Fri, Nov 01, 2024 @ 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Student Activity
PhD student Defense Join Zoom Meetinghttps://usc.zoom.us/j/4275286440?pwd=TFR6WTd6SHp2SHo2c2cyajYxM1d4dz09&omn=97429297706Meeting ID: 427 528 6440Passcode: 1911
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 310S
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Michele ISE
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/4275286440?pwd=TFR6WTd6SHp2SHo2c2cyajYxM1d4dz09&omn=97429297706
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EiS Communications Hub - Tutoring for Engineering Ph.D. Students
Fri, Nov 01, 2024 @ 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Viterbi School of Engineering Student Affairs
Workshops & Infosessions
Come to the EiS Communications Hub for one-on-one tutoring from Viterbi faculty for Ph.D. writing and speaking projects!
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 222A
Audiences: Viterbi Ph.D. Students
Contact: Helen Choi
Event Link: https://sites.google.com/usc.edu/eishub/home
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Alfred E.Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering - Seminar series
Fri, Nov 01, 2024 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Remo Rohs, Ph.D., Professor of Quantitative and Computational Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy and Computer Science, University of Southern California
Talk Title: Engineering+: AI-driven discovery in biology
Abstract: In recent years, research in biology has become increasingly quantitative. This trend is due to two major drivers: Biology now generates large amounts of data in every experiment, and the power of computers has grown exponentially. The combination of data and computing is the basis of biological discovery in the 21st century. This talk will introduce AI-based and other computational methods developed in the Rohs lab with the goal to answer important biological questions related to gene regulation, nucleic acid structure, protein-nucleic acid binding, and drug design. These computational approaches combine biophysics, mathematics, and statistical machine learning. They enable, for instance, the probing a protein for its preference to bind either DNA or RNA or allow for the design of novel drug-like molecules that are not available in current drug libraries. Feature engineering is a crucial factor for the interpretability of these models. The talk will provide a vision for the crucial role of computational biology at the interface of engineering, medicine, and science.
Biography: Biography:Remo Rohs is the founding chair of the Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology. He received his undergraduate and master’s degree in physics at Humboldt University Berlin. His Ph.D. in chemistry is from Free University Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, Germany. Remo Rohs did his postdoctoral training in structural biology at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. He received further training in computational biology and bioinformatics as research scientist at Columbia University in New York. Remo Rohs started his independent faculty career at the University of Southern California in 2010. He received tenure and was promoted to associated professor in 2016 and to full professor in the same year. He became head of the computational biology and bioinformatics faculty in 2016, founded a section of quantitative and computational biology in 2018, and his current department in 2021. He also designed the quantitative biology undergraduate major. His research is primarily funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Host: Stecey Finley
Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 109
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Carla Stanard
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MHI - Physics Joint Seminar Series - Yogesh Joglekar, Friday, Nov. 1st at 2pm in SSL 202
Fri, Nov 01, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Yogesh Joglekar, Professor of Physics, Indiana University
Talk Title: Non-Hermitian quantum dynamics: super quantum correlations and breaking the quantum speed limit
Series: MHI Physics Joint Seminar Series
Abstract: Quantum theory provides rules governing much of the microscopic world. It dictates unitarity for isolated systems that when coupled to an environment, undergo decoherence. Among its counter-intuitive consequences are temporal (Leggett-Garg) correlations that exceed the bounds from local, classical theories. In the simplest system - a single qubit - LG correlations are bounded below 1.5 for unitary and decohering dynamics, with excess over 1 indicating "quantumness". Fundamentally, these bounds arise due to limits on the speed at which a quantum state can evolve into an orthogonal one. In recent years, quantum systems undergoing coherent but non-unitary evolution have emerged. They are governed by non-Hermitian, parity-time (PT) symmetric Hamiltonians with exceptional point degeneracies. After a short review of such systems, I will present results for PT-symmetry breaking, temporal correlations that exceed the LG bound of 1.5, and quantum state-transfers that exceed the quantum speed limit in a single trapped ion (arXiv:2304.12413, PRA 108, 032202 (2023)).*Work done with David Allcock group (University of Oregon) and Sourin Das group (IISER, Kolkata).
Biography: Yogesh Joglekar is an experimentally-minded theoretical physicist. After initial training and some time in condensed matter physics, he started moonlighting in the area of PT symmetry with the help of high-school students. They have helped him see how PT symmetry emerges in disparate platforms such as a single LC circuit or a vibrating tank of water. His primary area of research is open classical and quantum systems. He usually has far more questions than answers.
Host: Mercedeh Khajavikhan & Demetri Christodoulides
More Information: Yogesh Joglekar Flyer.pdf
Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 202
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
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MHI ISSS Seminar - Dr. Xuan "Silvia" Zhang, Friday, Nov. 1st at 2pm in EEB 132
Fri, Nov 01, 2024 @ 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Xuan "Silvia" Zhang, Associate Professor, Northeastern University
Talk Title: Foundational AI Framework for Automated Synthesis of Analog Integrated Circuits
Series: Integrated Systems
Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies have profoundly reshaped our world, manifesting their prowess in perception, knowledge generation, and decision making. In a similar fashion, AI/ML will undoubtedly be a disruptive force to revolutionize the IC design process. Due to their labor-intensive nature, analog and radio frequency (RF) circuits take a disproportionate share in design cost and could therefore benefit tremendously from automation. In this talk, I will present the recent work from my lab towards the goal of building a foundational AI framework for analog IC design automation. I will first introduce our deep learning-based method to automate parameter optimization in analog/RF circuits with a unique domain knowledge-infused approach. This method is then expanded to provide robustness and sampling efficiency against design variations caused by process, voltage, and temperature (PVT). Next, I will briefly talk about CktGNN, our hierarchical graph neural network-based approach to synthesizing circuit topology and the first of its kind that leads to the construction of an open-sourced analog circuit dataset (https://github.com/zehao-dong/CktGNN). Finally, I will conclude the talk with a vision statement and roadmap for future AI-driven design automation.
Biography: Dr. Xuan Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Northeastern University. She works across the fields of integrated circuits/VLSI design, computer architecture, and electronic design automation. Dr. Zhang is an IEEE Women in Engineering (WiE) Distinguished Lecturer for 2023-2024, IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (CAS) Distinguished Lecturer for 2022-2023, and the recipient of NSF CAREER Award in 2020. She currently serves as the Associate Editor-in-Chief at IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I (TCAS-I) and Associate Editor at IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Designs (TCAD). Her work has received numerous best paper awards and nominations including ISLPED Best Paper Award in 2022, AsianHOST Best Paper Award in 2020, DATE Best Paper Award in 2019, and Best Paper nominations at DAC 2022, ASP-DAC 2021, MLCAD 2020, DATE 2019, and DAC 2017.
Host: MHI - ISSS, Hashemi, Chen and Sideris
More Info: https://usc.zoom.us/j/92564669688
More Information: MHI_Seminar_Flyer_Zhang_Nov1_2024.pdf
Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Marilyn Poplawski
Event Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/92564669688
