Tao Wei - Associate Professor - Biomedical and Chemical Engineering 

Tao Wei was previously an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Howard University, where he received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2020. Prior to Howard, he was a professo at Lamar University and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. 

His research interests are biomaterials, including proteins and DNA/RNA, and bionanotechnologies, such as biosensors for drug delivery. Other research interest areas include soft and quantum materials and multiscale simulations. Wei is a member of the American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Physical Society and a senior member of Sigma Xi. 

Wei received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from Nanjing University of Technology. He earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and materials science from the University of Southern California. 

I’m really impressed with the college’s high-quality research and teaching. Their commitment to advancing knowledge and cultivating the next generation of scientists and engineers makes the college a hub for academic excellence. What adds charm to the college is the interdisciplinary collaboration encouraged here for faculty and students.

– Tao Wei

Bhavana Ginjupally – Instructor – Computer Science and Engineering

Bhavana Ginjupally recently earned her master’s degree in computer science, cyber security, from the University of South Carolina. She was a teaching assistant for two years, instructing undergraduate students in Python and other computer languages. Ginjupally developed curriculum and lesson plans and conducted lectures and facilitated hands-on programming exercises. She was nominated for a USC Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for the 2022-23 academic year.

Starting my journey as a computer science instructor at my alma mater is exciting. I'm eager to guide students through the same university that shaped me. Sharing my experiences and watching their growth excites me the most. I aim to create an engaging learning environment and collaborate with colleagues in the ever-evolving field of computer science.

– Bhavana Ginjupally

Elie Kfoury – Assistant Professor – IIT

Elie Kfoury begins his academia career after recently earning his Ph.D. in informatics from USC. Kfoury's research focused on optimizing network performance by modifying router buffer sizes. He conducted extensive research experiments to explore the potential of new-generation networks. 

His expertise in cybersecurity led him to organize hands-on workshops where industry professionals, national lab experts and university peers guided participants through step-by-step instructions on network protection and performance optimization. While conducting his research, Kfoury co-authored, “Science DMZ,” with his advisor Jorge Crichigno. The book was written about special high-speed networks, based on their combined workshops. Kfoury's work was also recognized when he presented his research on enhancing voice-over IP applications' quality of service at a workshop organized by the Open Networking Foundation, one of the primary organizations responsible for standardizing networking protocols.

Prior to arriving at USC, Kfoury earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from American University of Science and Technology in Lebanon.

After being here since 2019 and working with all these excellent faculty members, it is exciting to now work at USC because it is a major R1 research university.

– Elie Kfoury