By Camerin Lee, USC Viterbi Computer Science student; USC President’s High Tech Scholar, and summer intern at ICT (2025)
When I first came to USC to study Computer Science, I knew I was passionate about mathematics and intrigued by the boundless possibilities of technology. But I didn’t yet know where I fit within the field. I chose this major because it blends logic with creativity, and because I wanted to be part of the innovation that’s shaping the future. This summer, thanks to the opportunity to intern at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), I found myself closer than ever to that goal.
I discovered ICT through USC’s President’s High-Tech Scholars program, which supports transfer students from underrepresented backgrounds who are pursuing careers in STEM. What immediately stood out to me about ICT was its commitment to interdisciplinary research. I saw teams of engineers, psychologists, artists, and researchers working together—building technologies that serve real-world needs. That kind of collaboration is rare, and it was one of the main reasons I applied. Another was my future PI, Dr. Gale Lucas, whose warmth and enthusiasm came through even in our very first conversation.
Under Dr. Lucas’ guidance, I joined a project that’s developing a reusable multimodal capture system for studying human-human interaction. In simpler terms, we’re creating a system that can capture audio, video, and other data streams from live conversations—offering a rich picture of how people communicate. It’s the kind of tool that can support research into everything from conflict resolution to human-robot interaction.
One of the most exciting aspects of this work has been its immediacy. You’re not just building something abstract; you’re contributing to a platform that could be used by social scientists, clinical researchers, and developers alike. Being at ICT has given me a clearer picture of what it means to work at the intersection of software engineering and human-computer interaction. It’s shown me that code can be more than elegant—it can be empathetic. That’s something I want to carry with me.
While I’m still exploring what specific role I want to play in the tech world, this internship helped me identify what kind of environment I want to work in. I want to be part of teams where the work is meaningful, the problems are complex, and everyone is deeply motivated by curiosity and impact. More than anything, I want to work alongside people who are just as excited about technology as I am.
One of the highlights of this summer was attending the 2025 CS Symposium at Harvey Mudd College with my fellow interns. It was an incredible way to cap off all the learning and collaboration we had experienced together. Seeing the breadth of research on display, and the creativity with which students approached technical problems, was both humbling and inspiring. It reminded me that the world of computer science is vast—and that there’s always more to discover.
If I had one piece of advice for someone considering applying to ICT, it would be this: be proactive. Don’t wait for opportunities to land in your lap. Ask questions. Introduce yourself to people outside your immediate team. Be a sponge for information. The environment here is filled with generous mentors and brilliant minds—take advantage of it. You never know which conversation might spark a new interest or point you toward your next step.
Looking ahead, my biggest goal is to graduate from college. That milestone represents more than just a degree—it’s a stepping stone to everything I hope to build. And while I’m not sure yet where I’ll land in the tech industry, I do know this: I want to make a difference. I want to work on projects that matter. And I want to keep learning from people who challenge me to think bigger and go further.
This summer at ICT didn’t just sharpen my skills—it broadened my perspective. It showed me what’s possible when disciplines converge, when research is grounded in purpose, and when interns like me are trusted to contribute to something greater than themselves. I’ll carry those lessons with me as I continue on this journey—grateful for the people I met, the work I got to do, and the sense that, finally, I’m starting to find my place.
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