Aiming high in the IT field
Alum Mary Kathryn Holliday started as an intern at Boeing and now leads one of the IT teams responsible for deploying and maintaining critical software and applications for more than 20,000 users worldwide.
MCEC hosts summer camps for middle and high school students
"These workshops offer an early, impactful experience that reinforces the importance of academic excellence in engineering and computer science." - Willie Morgan
From architecture to engineering to promoting STEM
When Jessica Farmer started at USC as an art history major in 1997, she never imagined that she would be back for a second degree 15 years later.
USC and NUST Oman Partnership Flourishes
Since 2022, a partnership between the University of South Carolina and the National University of Science and Technology in Oman has fostered a cross-cultural engineering community.
Carolina Distinguished Professor honored for pioneering contributions to III-nitride semiconductor technology
Asif Khan, Carolina Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering and director of the college's Photonics and Microelectronics Laboratory, was recently named the first recipient of the Isamu Akasaki Memorial Award by the International Conference on Nitride Semiconductors.
Investigating sustainable and environmental-friendly chemical processes
Chemical engineering Ph.D. student Mahmoud (Nadi) Amirsalehi's research activities aim to generate clean, sustainable energy while reducing fossil fuel consumption.
Integrating geography and demographics for improved railroad safety
According to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, there were 112 reportable accidents recorded in South Carolina in 2022. With more than 150,000 miles of railroad tracks in the U.S., trespassing is the top cause of all railroad-related deaths.
MCEC students at the core of ExxonMobil recruiting efforts
A pair of alumni who work at ExxonMobil have both returned to the University of South Carolina for recruiting events. And over the years, their employer has taken notice of the talent and preparedness of Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing interns and alumni.
Finding passion in vehicle efficiency for naval and aerospace applications
As a graduate research assistant under Electrical Engineering Assistant Professor Kristen Booth, Jack Hannum studies digital twins for naval power systems and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft powertrains for NASA.
Jamshidi recognized again for most influential paper
For the second consecutive year, Computer Science and Engineering Associate Professor Pooyan Jamshidi has received the Ten-Year Most Influential Paper Award at an international conference.
Taheri Qazvini pursues new research direction to close petrochemical knowledge gap
Thermoplastic polyurethanes are versatile materials found in numerous applications, ranging from automotive components and medical devices to footwear and electronic equipment. Their desirable properties include elasticity and durability, making them suitable for use as soft engineering plastics or alternatives to traditional vulcanized rubber.
Biomedical engineering alum stays on mission with work in venture capital
USC alumnus David Prim has dedicated his career to fighting cardiovascular diseases — first as a researcher and now as a venture capitalist. He works for Broadview Ventures in Boston, helping the organization identify and invest in promising new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Honors student builds career path in engineering, while nurturing his passion for music
Aidan Billings followed his head and his heart when he came to the University of South Carolina. Billings, who also is in the South Carolina Honors College, didn’t think a career as a musician would provide the income he wanted for his life, so he chose engineering for that aspect. But the second violinist in USC’s Symphony Orchestra says he loves playing classical music and does it professionally with several orchestras in the state.
Turning a passion into a career
"That passion I had as a six-year-old drawing cars is still with me. Now I get to bring those dreams to life." - Bryn Dixon
Ph.D. student pursues the intersection of biomedical science and AI
Ricky Dash's research involves using machine learning to help improve treatments for osteoporosis.
Helping small to medium manufacturers manage supply chain interruptions
Incorporating AI and machine learning is a promising technology for today's manufacturing networks. However, there is an increasing divide between large manufacturers and small and medium manufacturers in adopting digital tools and leveraging their benefits on resilience.
USC football player combines engineering, business off the field
Gamecock football player William Joyce was one of the first students selected to participate in the 4+1 pathway partnership between the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing and the Darla Moore School of Business. The program prioritizes engineering and computing graduates for direct admissions into the Moore School's one-year Master of Business Administration or the Master of Science in Business Analytics programs.
Preparing a new cybersecurity workforce
In the Carolinas, there are more than 27,000 cybersecurity job openings, which is much higher than the number of graduates with the skills necessary to fill positions.
Biomedical engineering faculty member studying the biomechanics of brain injury
Sudden violent impact to the head, the kind that can happen in car crashes, football games and other activities, can shear and stretch brain tissue in ways that are very difficult to see. That’s why USC biomedical engineering assistant professor Ahmed Alshareef is part of a team studying the biomechanics of brain injuries with a goal of understanding exactly what happens dynamically to the brain during concussive events.
Computer science friends launch AI study tools platform
Three computer science undergraduates have teamed up to create an artificial intelligence toolkit designed to help students study more efficiently.
MCEC seniors to be recognized on Awards Day
MCEC students from each of the 10 undergraduate programs will be recognized for their achievements at the university's annual Awards Day on April 17.
Engineering researcher focused on improving manufacturing processes for advanced composite materials
Embedded sensors, edge computing, machine learning and high-fidelity simulations are part of the toolkit for Paul Ziehl and the research team he works with at USC’s McNAIR Center for Aerospace Engineering and Research.
MCEC moves up another 12 spots in 2025 U.S. News & World Report Rankings
Over the past two years, the college has had the largest improvement in rankings of all engineering programs ranked in the top 100 nationally.
"Changemaker" IIT Chair honored with prestigious award for advocacy and community service
Department of Integrated Information Technology Chair Elizabeth Regan received the prestigious HIMSS Founder Award at the organization's 2025 Global Health Conference last month.
Facial expression recognition project powers social robot innovation
What began as a student project in Ramtin Zand’s course on neuromorphic computing—an area of computer science that designs artificial intelligence systems inspired by the human brain—has rapidly grown into an award-winning research initiative with real-world applications in education and AI.
USC neuroscience experts working to understand, improve brain health
The University of South Carolina is focused on the brain. From autism and aphasia to Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, university researchers are working across several academic disciplines to better understand how the brain works and to develop solutions that will improve people’s health.