Spring 2026

Welcome to the Spring 2026 newsletter for the USC Viterbi School of Engineering's

Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science.

We are pleased to share news about our department's recent research and activities below.

No Time for Trial and Error: How to Speed Up the Discovery of the Next Super-Alloy

A 3D-printing technique co-developed at USC has enabled the rapid discovery of a new alloy that can withstand extreme heat.

USC Research Harnesses AI to Predict and Understand Complex Fluid Mixing

Research from the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science has unraveled the mystery of viscous fingering, in work that could be critical to groundwater remediation and oil recovery.

Energi Simulation Renews Research Chair in Subsurface Energy Data Science at USC Viterbi

Data science and AI-driven research optimizes the development and management of subsurface fluids and energy.

Discovering New Materials: AI Can Simulate Billions of Atoms Simultaneously

Allegro-FM achieves breakthrough scalability for materials research, enabling simulations 1,000 times larger than previous models.

A Forecast of What's Next for Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

The 20th annual Student Symposium and Showcase at the USC Viterbi Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science highlights research in AI-driven materials discovery, energy transition and biomolecular engineering.

How Does Electron Structure Impact Light Responses in Moiré Materials?

New research from the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at USC Viterbi shows how the organization of electrons can reshape how a material responds to light - opening previously inconceivable possibilities for optical and quantum technologies.