By Dr. Randall W. Hill, Jr., Executive Director, USC Institute for Creative Technologies, Vice Dean, Viterbi School of Engineering, Omar B. Milligan Professor of Computer Science (Games and Interactive Media)
The University of Southern California has long been a computing pioneer, from foundational Internet work to breakthrough quantum systems in academia.
Building on this legacy, the USC School of Advanced Computing (SAC) was launched in 2024, under the directorship of Dr. Gaurav Sukhatme. The SAC operates as a unit within the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, as does ICT, which was founded in 1999, as a Department of Defense-funded University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), and is sponsored by the U.S. Army (and here’s the “origin story” behind ICT).
The SAC operates in very close collaboration with the Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT): There are thirteen researchers at ICT who also hold faculty appointments in either the Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science, or Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (these being the two constituent departments of the School of Advanced Computing). Additionally, 35 students at the doctoral, masters or undergraduate levels are majoring in one of these two departments, while also working on research projects at ICT. You can see several of ICT’s labs are prominently featured in SAC’s new showcase video.
V=C+2I
Dean Yannis Yortsos’s strategic vision behind SAC, with its constituent parts and collaborations, can be summed up in his “V=C+2I” framework, where V is the USC Viterbi School of Engineering; C for the departments located on Campus; and ISI and ICT are the 2 “i”s headquartered off-campus.
This reflects how USC’s distributed computing excellence works together, while his insight that research now requires “hyphenated-disciplinary” approaches has shaped SAC’s institutional design.
In addition to the two academic departments, SAC also hosts the new Division of Computing Education, while SAC Affinity Faculty groups extend computational expertise across all USC schools. This integration enables SAC to tackle complex challenges in health, sustainability, social sciences, arts, and education through advanced computing.
As Director of the USC School of Advanced Computing, Dr. Gaurav Sukhatme brings exceptional leadership to his role. A globally recognized authority in robotics, AI, and networked systems, he has mentored generations of engineers throughout his career.
Following undergraduate education at IIT Bombay and graduate education at USC, Dr. Sukhatme co-directs the USC Robotics Research Laboratory, leads the USC Robotic Embedded Systems Laboratory, and chaired USC’s Computer Science Department. His contributions have earned Fellowship in the AAAS, AAAI, and IEEE, the NSF CAREER Award, and multiple USC mentoring awards.
Here are extracts from our recent conversation:
Dr. Hill: Dr. Sukhatme, SAC represents a remarkable undertaking. How does ICT fit into this vision?
Dr. Sukhatme: ICT has long been positioned at the intersection of computational innovation and applied research, particularly in areas requiring sophisticated human-computer interaction. Within SAC’s framework, ICT serves as a bridge between theoretical advances and deployable solutions that address real societal challenges. This enables us to move beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries, creating research environments where computational theory meets practical application across healthcare, environmental monitoring, educational technology, and interactive media.
Dr. Hill: Could you provide a concrete example of this integration?
Dr. Sukhatme: Consider our autonomous sensing and robotics initiatives. ICT brings deep expertise in artificial intelligence, computational simulation, and human-centered design. When these capabilities are combined with SAC’s institutional strengths in machine learning, large-scale data analytics, and advanced computing infrastructure, we can process complex data streams in real-time and generate actionable insights. Whether examining autonomous systems operating in dynamic environments or AI-driven interactive experiences that adapt to users, ICT represents the kind of applied innovation that SAC was designed to foster.
Dr. Hill: How does SAC’s vision of digital fluency intersect with ICT’s educational mission?
Dr. Sukhatme: SAC’s commitment to ensuring every USC graduate possesses digital fluency—regardless of their major—aligns directly with ICT’s educational approach. We achieve this through experiential learning: simulation environments, interactive AI systems, and immersive technologies that help students understand not just how to use technology, but its societal implications, ethical dimensions, and limitations. This prepares graduates who can navigate an increasingly computational world with both competence and critical awareness—exactly what SAC’s mission requires.
Dr. Hill: Beyond education, what excites you most about SAC’s future?
Dr. Sukhatme: The interdisciplinary possibilities are genuinely exciting. SAC creates a structure that integrates computing expertise across USC—from computer science and electrical and computer engineering to institutes like ICT and ISI—enabling us to tackle research questions of unprecedented scope. ICT’s work in virtual human simulation, autonomous systems, and AI-driven storytelling can now connect seamlessly with health sciences, social sciences, and the arts. We’re entering an era where technological capability and human insight are deeply interconnected, and SAC provides the institutional framework to make this vision a reality.
Dr. Hill: This integration of SAC and ICT seems to represent a distinctive approach to computational research and education.
Dr. Sukhatme: Exactly. Through the integration of SAC’s research and educational mission with ICT’s applied expertise, USC is developing a model that prepares students and researchers to deploy advanced computing ethically and impactfully. We’re not just advancing technology—we’re reshaping how technology interfaces with society. As Dean Yortsos has articulated through his V=C+2I vision, ICT represents one of the transformative research institutes that define our school’s identity. His vision of the “double helix” where technology and human centricity interact, is essential as we advance initiatives within the Frontiers of Computing framework.
Institutional Vision and Future Trajectories
With SAC as the integrative framework for computational research and education across USC, and ICT as a critical node for applied innovation, the university has created an ecosystem where research excellence, pedagogical innovation, and societal engagement converge.
Under Dr. Sukhatme’s leadership, SAC advances the theoretical frontiers of computational science while ensuring graduates possess sophisticated digital literacy, ethical frameworks, and the preparation needed to address civilization’s pressing challenges.
This institutional architecture reflects Dean Yortsos’s broader strategic vision. His V=C+2I framework provides the conceptual foundation for coordinating USC’s computing excellence, while his recognition that “research, discovery and innovation are now hyphenated-disciplinary” has proven prescient. SAC’s interdisciplinary mission directly embodies his insight that convergence across fields is essential for addressing complex global challenges.
Within this dynamic framework, ICT exemplifies how applied research and interdisciplinary collaboration transform theoretical vision into societal impact—continuing USC’s distinguished legacy in computational innovation while creating new paradigms for technology’s role in human flourishing.
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