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Our Strategic Vision
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Engineering a better
world
for all humanity

Our strategic vision

The department's vision guides our work and impact. We leverage interdisciplinary research in five distinct areas.
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The Energy-Water Nexus

Sustainability expert Sanders’ focus is the energy-water nexus — the idea that producing a safe and reliable water supply requires a lot of energy, while producing a safe and reliable energy supply requires a lot of water. She has studied ways to optimize this relationship between energy and water services for nearly a decade.

News

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A Graduating Engineer’s Solutions for Global Water Challenges
May 8, 2024

Ana Luiza Behisnelian is using her environmental engineering degree to take on the mission of protecting one of our planet’s most important resources – water.

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No More Burnout: Mohamad Awada Wants to Optimize your Workspace
May 8, 2024

Mohamad Awada, a graduating Ph.D. student in USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, reflects on five years of research developing dynamic environments for modern workspaces.

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Najmedin Meshkati Testifies Before Senate Committee on Boeing
May 3, 2024

International expert in safety culture and human factors, Meshkati spoke before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation as part of the FAA independent expert panel reviewing Boeing’s safety processes.

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Meet Cyrus Maroofian, the Viterbi Alumnus Changing the World through Water
April 30, 2024

The Trojan’s mission to bring potable water started at USC

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Policy Influencer Jiachen Zhang Tackles Climate and Air Quality Challenges
April 29, 2024

Assistant Professor Jiachen Zhang brings her expertise in computational modeling and science-based public policy to her new role at Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

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Mohamad Awada Receives the 2024 USC Ph.D. Achievement Award
April 23, 2024

The USC Viterbi student was honored for his research in creating smart spaces that can drastically improve the quality of our lives.

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USC Researchers are Developing AI-Enhanced Safety Inspections for Nuclear Waste
April 4, 2024

Researchers in the USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering are tackling one of the most complex problems facing the U.S. Department of Energy: how to safely handle and store “spent” nuclear fuel.

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Associate Professor Kelly Sanders to Advise the White House on Clean Energy Policy
April 2, 2024

Sanders has been appointed 2024 Assistant Director for Energy Systems Innovation at the White House.

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From Drug-Detection to Eco-Entrepreneurship: Introducing Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz
February 26, 2024

Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz brings a wealth of experience to her role as assistant professor at USC Sonny Astani Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

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Mitul Luhar joins the National Academies’ New Voices in Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
February 20, 2024

Luhar will be part of the 2024-26 cohort of 26 outstanding early and mid-career scientists, engineers and medical professionals selected by National Academies.

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CEE Student Voices


Research @ CEE

We are pioneering new fields of research and bringing disciplines together to tackle the grand challenges of our time.

Research Spotlights

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Building the world of tomorrow
Today!

CEE @ USC goes beyond academics.
It's a hub for sustainability-minded innovators and makers who work on bold new ideas that will transform our world.

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Academics​

Explore our interdisciplinary programs.
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Straight from the Source
Conversations with Current Faculty and Students

Have you ever wondered where a civil and environmental engineering degree will take you? Or what life in a CEE research lab is like? Or are you just curious about what your friends are working on? Be CEEN gives you the inside scoop on the world of CEE @ USC Viterbi.

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What makes
us unique

  • Top 10 engineering school in the nation
  • Multidisciplinary research, integrating A.I., computing and CEE
  • Global innovation programs
  • Academia + industry partnerships
  • Los Angeles City is a living lab; it is one of the largest and most diverse metropolitan cities in the world