Artificial intelligence is transforming health care, education, national defense, disaster response and more. At the University of South Carolina, researchers are exploring how to help shape the technical, ethical and policy conversations around AI’s rapid growth.
This curated list invites access to faculty across engineering, computer science, law and hospitality—making it a go-to resource for journalists and reporters covering one of today’s most urgent and fast-moving topics.
Several of these researchers are affiliated with USC’s AI Institute, a university-wide initiative advancing practical, interdisciplinary research and
workforce development.
AI and Energy
Jochen Lauterbach is chair of USC’s SmartState Center for Strategic Approaches to the Generation of Electricity (SAGE), where AI is the driver behind his research team’s work to discover new nanomaterials
for energy solutions. He is among a vanguard of scientists worldwide focused on reducing
the energy requirements for chemical processes, including ammonia synthesis and plastics
recycling. He finds AI helpful in accelerating search processes for previously unexplored
nanomaterials, which saves time and money while allowing for materials compositions
that are outside the typical search and optimization space.
Research feature story: AI-powered experimentation fuels energy research
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
AI Ethics, Safety & Governance
Biplav Srivastava is a computer science professor at the University of South Carolina and a core faculty
member of USC’s AI Institute. He is an expert in building trustworthy, user-aware
AI systems. His research helps people make better decisions in complex settings such
as health care, education and elections by addressing issues such as data quality,
ethics and privacy. He specializes in neuro-symbolic AI, combining logic and machine
learning to foster safer human-AI collaboration. A Distinguished Scientist of the
Association for Computing Machinery, Srivastava is USC’s lead contact with the U.S.
Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute and is available to speak on responsible
AI use, chatbot risks and emerging tech impacts.
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
AI Law (including self-driving cars and generative AI)
Bryant Walker Smith is an associate professor of law and (by courtesy) engineering at the University
of South Carolina. He is a leading national expert on how artificial intelligence
is reshaping transportation, especially self-driving vehicles. Smith advises governments
at all levels—including having served as vice chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee—and works with the United Nations on
emerging tech policy. He studies how AI concentrates or redistributes power in society
and explores what that means for the relationships between governments, companies,
and individuals.
Research feature story: Propel AI initiative aims to weave AI into scholarship, research
News contact: Andersen Cook, cookea2@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-8058
AI for Robotics and Embedded Systems
Pooyan Jamshidi is an associate professor of computer science and engineering and director of the
Artificial Intelligence and Systems Laboratory (AISys). His research focuses on developing intelligent and resilient AI systems that can
self-adapt in real time, balance trade-offs among competing objectives, and function
reliably in uncertain, dynamic environments. He also investigates how causal reasoning
can enhance the efficiency and explainability of AI. Jamshidi’s work lies at the intersection
of AI, computer systems, robotics and software engineering—advancing technologies
capable of making smarter, faster decisions while remaining robust and resilient in
the face of unforeseen challenges.
Research feature stories: Breakthrough Star Pooyan Jamshidi: Lifelong interest in robotics leads professor to
research in artificial intelligence, machine learning | Jamshidi earns recognition for most influential paper
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Civil Engineering
Juan Caicedo, professor and department chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering in USC’s Molinaroli
College of Engineering and Computing, is an expert in smart infrastructure and structural
dynamics. He leads the Structural Dynamics and Intelligent Infrastructure (SDII) group, which integrates sensors and data analysis to enhance the safety of buildings and
bridges while enabling innovative infrastructure applications. His team has developed
technology that uses building vibrations to detect falls and measure gait parameters.
This is a promising tool to allow aging adults live independently. Supported by agencies
such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology
and South Carolina Department of Transportation, Caicedo’s work has broad applications
in infrastructure resilience and health care. As a department chair, he is in avid
user of new technologies for administration, including the use AI.
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Devices and Embedded Systems
Ramtin Zand is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering and the director of
the Intelligent Circuits, Architectures and Systems (iCAS) Lab. His research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning
and computer hardware, with a particular emphasis on edge and neuromorphic computing.
He aims to develop fast, energy-efficient technologies that enable intelligent systems
to operate directly on compact, resource-constrained devices. The iCAS Lab is supported
by federal agencies, including the NSF, AFRL, and ONR, and maintains collaborations
with leading industry partners such as Intel AMD, and local companies such as Integer
and Van Robotics. Zand’s team brings expertise in designing AI systems for applications
ranging from social and underwater robotics to smart manufacturing, assistive technologies
and autonomous systems. Zand is committed to bridging foundational research with real-world
impact. His lab has a strong track record of translating classroom innovations into
award-winning technologies that push the boundaries of intelligent computing at the
edge.
Research feature story: From classroom concept to award-winning AI: Facial expression recognition project
powers social robot innovation
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Explainable AI & Pathfinding
Forest Agostinelli is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and
a core faculty member of USC’s AI Institute. He develops explainable AI algorithms
designed to solve pathfinding problems—challenges that require finding a sequence
of actions from a starting point to a goal. His work combines deep learning, reinforcement
learning, formal logic and search to create AI systems that can reveal their reasoning,
helping humans understand and trust machine decisions. Agostinelli applies these methods
to areas such as robotics, chemical synthesis, quantum computing and even solving
the Rubik’s Cube. His long-term goal is to build a feedback loop where AI and humans
learn from each other—advancing the idea that solving pathfinding is essential to
unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence.
Research feature story: Agostinelli advances AI techniques for complex pathfinding solutions
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Explainable AI (XAI) for Global Insights
Wolfgang Messner is a clinical professor of international business at the Darla Moore School of Business who specializes in how artificial intelligence and global cultures interact. He works on making powerful AI systems, such as ones that use deep learning, more transparent and easier to understand. He developed a new way to measure effects in deep learning models, which helps researchers and businesses see why these systems make certain decisions. He also uses large language models to analyze and compare cultural trends across different countries, offering new insights into how cultures vary. A key part of his research involves identifying and addressing cultural biases within these AI systems, with the goal of creating more fair and culturally sensitive technology. Ultimately, Messner’s work bridges the gap between advanced AI technology and its practical, real-world application in business and global society.
Research feature story: Is AI sparking a cognitive revolution that will lead to mediocrity and conformity?
Faculty contact: Kristine Hartvigsen, hartvigk@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-7548.
Human-Computer Interaction
Dezhi Wu is a professor in the department of integrated information technology in the Molinaroli
College of Engineering and Computing and founding director of USC’s HI3 Tech Lab. Her research blends artificial intelligence with human-computer interaction, health
informatics and STEM education to design smarter, more intuitive technologies that
help people in real-life situations. Wu’s team is developing AI-driven systems that
monitor health behaviors, detect medical risks using social media and electronic health
records, and support patients and clinicians through intelligent decision tools. She
also designs explainable AI platforms to improve STEM learning and creates adaptive
chatbot systems to support learners. Her current work aims to make AI more ethical,
transparent and human-centered for real impacts—especially in health care, and STEM
education.
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Innovation with AI
Joel Wooten is an associate professor of Management Science at the Darla Moore School of Business, specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship. He teaches courses in Innovation and Design, Web-Based Products and Services, and Data Analytics, integrating a wide array of AI tools into the classroom. His students learn to harness AI for prototyping, user needs, and product development – and have built and launched startups using AI-driven coding platforms, image and video generation, and custom GPTs.
News contact: Kristine Hartvigsen, hartvigk@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-7548
Intelligent Systems Engineering
Vignesh Narayanan is an assistant professor of computer science and engineering and a core faculty member
of USC’s AI Institute and is affiliated with the Carolina Autism Neurodevelopment
Research Center. He brings a blend of expertise in AI, dynamic systems and computational
neuroscience. Narayanan studies how human behavior and AI-driven systems interact
over time—research that applies directly to autonomous vehicles, intelligent chatbots
in mental health care and safeguarding learning-based systems against cyberattacks.
His work, funded by the National Science Foundation, the Air Force and the Navy, focuses
on efforts to prevent adversaries from manipulating AI decisions in intelligent cyber-physical
systems such as drones and smart grids, as well as improving how robots and ground
vehicles communicate and make decisions using fewer resources. Narayanan’s focus on
real-world safety, reliability and human-AI collaboration makes him a timely expert
for interviews on emerging AI technologies.
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Marketing and Consumer Behavior
Drew Martin is the Interim Faculty Director of AI Research and Education at the University of
South Carolina and a professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. An internationally recognized
expert in tourism and consumer behavior, Martin explores how artificial intelligence
can help businesses better understand customer emotions, preferences, and decision-making.
His recent work includes using AI tools to analyze online reviews and social media
photos to gain insights into travel experiences, brand perceptions and visitor satisfaction.
Martin also leads professional development programs that teach businesses how to apply
AI to boost sales, personalize customer engagement and streamline operations. He’s
a valuable media resource for stories at the intersection of AI, marketing and tourism.
News contact: Kristine Hartvigsen, hartvigk@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-7548
Reasoning and Decision Systems
Marco Valtorta is a professor and graduate director in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering
at the University of South Carolina, where he studies how computers make decisions
when faced with uncertainty. His research centers on Bayesian networks, which are
statistical models that can represent cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
Valtorta builds algorithms that help machines learn these relationships from data,
making AI systems more transparent, reliable and useful in the real world. His recent
work includes evaluating the trustworthiness of AI systems in fields such as health
care, finance and text analysis — where small input changes can cause big, unexpected
shifts in results. He also develops methods for improving time-series forecasting
and identifying bias in sentiment analysis tools. Valtorta is available to discuss
AI reliability, causal reasoning and how to make machine learning safer and smarter.
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052
Wireless Networking and Contactless Sensing
Sanjib Sur, an associate professor in the department of computer science and engineering, leads
cutting-edge research focused on building the next generation of wireless and contactless
systems that not only connect people but also sense, interpret and respond to the
world around them. As director of the SyReX (Systems Research on X) lab, Sur is designing wireless networks and sensing systems that can help autonomous
vehicles “see” in total darkness, enable doctors to remotely monitor stroke patients
without invasive cameras and deliver high-speed, low-latency internet in crowded or
remote environments using drones. Sur’s work blends AI, millimeter-wave technology
and mobile computing to create smart, resilient systems with real-world applications
in health care, defense and everyday life.
Research feature story: Sur works on advanced wireless networking and sensing technologies research
News contact: Gregory Hardy, ghardy@sc.edu, 352-362-7052