Baja SAE returns to South Carolina for 50th anniversary
Premier engineering design competition Baja SAE originated in 1976 at the University of South Carolina under the direction of Mechanical Engineering Professor John F. Stephens.
A ten-year journey to the MCEC
"One thing about me is that I want to be taken out of my comfort zone. I want to be challenged." - Laura Danielli
Using chemical engineering skills to clean up the environment
The average cleanup cost of oil spills varies between states, but the costs are often overwhelming for small businesses which handle petroleum. As a result, many businesses in the past have failed to report leaks and spills. But one MCEC alum has helped cover costs and has been actively involved in cleanups.
Graduate researcher advances machine learning research
Computer Science Ph.D. student Misagh Soltani channels his passion for artificial intelligence into furthering model-based deep reinforcement learning. It is work he hopes will make tasks easier and information more accessible for the betterment of society.
Landmark partnership between The Nuclear Company and USC aims to advance nuclear energy innovation
A partnership announced this week brings together the University of South Carolina's nationally ranked nuclear engineering program and The Nuclear Company, which is leading gigawatt-scale deployment of nuclear power across America and pioneering the modernization of nuclear construction.
Improving and better understanding damage mechanics and detection
Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Subramani Sockalingam's current research project aims to use a novel approach to address challenges and better understand damage development in carbon composite materials.
MCEC welcomes new faculty for the 2025-2026 academic year
The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing is welcoming new faculty in the chemical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering departments.
Entrepreneurial Ph.D. candidate develops AI models for use in healthcare, social connection
In 2016, Computer Science Ph.D. candidate Alireza Bagheri first realized that artificial intelligence would change the world.
IIT student hones his business skills through study abroad
This past May, Integrated Information Technology rising senior Sean McGaha returned from a semester abroad better equipped to tackle the global business world.
Interdisciplinary initiative teaches medical students how to use AI productively and safely
The University of South Carolina’s School of Medicine has begun preparing its students to understand AI’s potential — and its shortcomings. The medical school in Columbia partnered last year with the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing to launch the AI in Medicine Extracurricular Track.
Research funds talented MCEC students
For the last five years, Ed Gatzke, chemical engineering undergraduate director and associate professor, has been leading the University of South Carolina Synthesized Program for Undergraduate Retention to increase retention of engineering and computing students.
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
Chemistry, computer science senior dreams of changing the world
Chemistry and computer science senior Christian Ruff talks about how his experiences at the University of South Carolina have helped shape him.
Chemical engineering research aims to improve lithium-sulfur battery systems
A rechargeable battery system with lower component costs and higher energy density potential than commonly used lithium-ion batteries is the focus of an industry-sponsored study by a chemical engineering research team at the University of South Carolina.
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.
Electrical engineering research group poised to advance manufacturing technology for next-gen semiconductors
Twenty-five years ago, electrical engineering professor Asif Khan and his team helped put the University of South Carolina on the map in semiconductor electronics and photonics research, garnering several large grants and gaining widespread scholarly recognition along the way. Now, Khan and several colleagues in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing are poised to do it again in the field of next-generation extreme semiconductor chips that can function in harsh environments — including outer space.
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.