The Unexpected
You never know where Trojans will make their impact — whether in space or on the other side of the world. Last year, USC students used their imaginations to create apps and resources for refugees forcibly displaced from their homes; others assisted people experiencing homelessness on the streets of Los Angeles. See a selection of stories highlighting some of the surprising ways Trojans touched the world.
Student-developed app will help refugees learn skills for life after asylum
The refugee crisis interrupted young people’s educational dreams. USC Viterbi students used tech to keep dreams alive at Europe’s biggest refugee camp.
Tattoo ink could be key to detecting cancer early
USC research has uncovered that commonly used coloring agents like tattoo inks and food dyes can illuminate cancer cells, differentiating them from normal adjacent cells.
How a USC student film reunited siblings on opposite sides of the world
While serving his country, an Army specialist missed most of his sister’s milestones — but not this time, thanks to a group of fellow students and their professor.
Shift to online learning allows Trojan to balance biology studies with a ballet career
Gabriella Schultze has been dancing with a company in Salt Lake City by day while pursuing her USC Dornsife studies at night.
To better understand diabetes, scientists gaze inside insulin-producing pancreatic cells
A USC-led team has developed advanced imaging techniques that allow for a uniquely detailed glimpse inside the body’s insulin factories.
USC musician brings his violin to essential workers during the pandemic
Etienne Gara, artist-in-residence at USC Dornsife’s Brain and Creativity Institute, has been staging outdoor classical music concerts for field workers all across California.