USC Dornsife’s grant strategist explains how she can help junior faculty secure funding
Heidi Smith Parker helps scholars ensure funding proposals fall on receptive ears at federal agencies.
USC students uncover well-preserved skeleton in the ancient city of Pompeii
The 2,000-year-old remains of a former slave — the head still adorned with strands of hair — were discovered alongside several urns of human ashes.
New USC center focuses on issues affecting Latinx communities
The director of the Latinx and Latin American Studies Center shares how it will examine the racial, economic and social issues important to Latinx populations in Southern California and beyond.
Students tackle urgent environmental issues thanks to a new fellowship program
The new EH MATTERS fellowship gives students from underrepresented groups a chance to conduct research on environmental health and safety issues.
Climate change challenge: Terminology used by scientists confounds public
“It sounds like you’re talking over people,” said one study participant in a USC/United Nations Foundation study. Participants offered helpful suggestions for improving climate language.
What is Sharia? Islamic law shows Muslims how to live, and can be a force for progress as well as a tool of fundamentalists
Jessica Marglin, associate professor of religion and history at USC Dornsife, provides insight into an oft-misunderstood aspect of Muslim culture.
USC experts assess the situation in Afghanistan
Two USC Dornsife scholars with expertise on the region give their insights into the harrowing situation unfolding after the Taliban seized power.
Can a new type of question help make political polls more accurate?
An innovative question about people’s social circles used in USC Dornsife’s Daybreak Poll could end up being the remedy to increasingly incorrect election predictions.
Citywide sensor network aims to measure carbon dioxide and pollutant levels across L.A.
The devices installed by USC’s William Berelson will help create a detailed map of greenhouse gases and other noxious emissions in various Los Angeles neighborhoods.
How much does control of the Senate affect legislative policymaking?
Two USC Dornsife political science scholars examine a period in the 1950s when the Senate was evenly divided, nine U.S. senators died and party control flipped twice.
By mapping athletes’ body movements, researcher puts Olympians on track to win
Using tools such as force plates and high-speed video, Jill McNitt-Gray helps competitors in the horizontal jumps reach peak performance and avoid injury.
A group’s moral values may help determine the likelihood of hate-motivated harmful acts
USC Dornsife researchers use geospatial modeling and psychological experimentation to predict “extreme behavioral expressions of prejudice” — malicious acts motivated by hate or bigotry.
Taking farm-to-table from Hollywood to Bollywood
Inspired by California’s vibrant food scene while at USC, alumna Shriya Naheta now delivers fresh, organic produce to thousands of customers across India.
Political science alum-turned-art student speaks her mind on the canvas
Jessica Bellamy, now a master’s degree candidate at the USC Roski School of Art and Design, uses her paintbrush to make sense of the “dystopian utopia” of Los Angeles.
Too hot to go outside? Stay in and self-educate with these short videos
Take a break and learn something new this summer with these brief, entertaining and educational videos featuring USC Dornsife scholars.
Can dad’s parenting style be predicted before his child’s birth?
A preliminary study finds that expectant fathers with higher levels of oxytocin and brain activation later endorse a more “baby-led,” empathetic parenting style.
Ska in the family: Fellowship allows student to research her family’s favorite music
Thanks to a prestigious Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, the recent USC grad was able to dive into the history of Mexican American ska music in Los Angeles.
USC Dornsife Mellon Mays Scholar explores queer culture and Black identity
Emmy Esquerre links “queer phobia” in today’s Black communities to political and religious systems put in place by European colonizers and missionaries in Africa and South America.
Pandemic misery index reveals far-reaching impact of COVID-19 on American lives, especially on Blacks and Latinos
The USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research’s index of “pandemic misery” found that 80% of U.S. adults experienced at least one serious economic, psychological or health hardship between April 2020 and March 2021.
Why discussing ideas is better than arguing over them
USC Dornsife’s Jim Clements helps students examine how dialogue — not debate — fosters growth and cooperation, even among people with very different viewpoints.
USC’s Student Symphony Orchestra didn’t let COVID-19 stop the music
Graduating senior Elaine Huang led the student orchestra through the pandemic and produced a unique set of virtual concerts in the process.
Studying psychedelic mushrooms propels first-gen student to divinity school
Graduating senior Kimberly Melgoza researches how mind-altering substances have been used in rituals across Latin America. She’ll bring her studies to Yale Divinity School this fall.
Nature and music come together unexpectedly for this 2021 grad
Cameron Audras has discovered how to mix his passion for conservation and his skill with the viola, interests that will culminate with degrees in environmental sciences and music.
Master’s student explores race and culture in East Asian hip-hop
Tiara Wilson studies how themes of resistance, justice and identity are expressed in the region’s immensely popular music genre.