University of Southern California students engage in summer research

Undergraduate students at the University of Southern California (USC) are participating in intensive summer research programs across various scientific disciplines.

In the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, student Alexander Nibauer is working in Assistant Professor Yasser Khan’s lab to develop miniature sensors. These sensors aim to detect biological chemical messengers to identify neurodegenerative diseases and traumatic brain injuries before symptoms appear.

Other students, such as Nico Matias from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, have focused on microbiome research. Ishwar K. Puri, USC’s senior vice president of research and innovation, noted that these summer opportunities allow students to move from classroom learning to active discovery, fostering creativity and professional preparation.