Lightbulb Moments by USC

Yasser Khan is an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at USC, whose work sits at the intersection of engineering, medicine and design. He gives us insight on how these devices will create a more precise picture into our health and wellness. Yasser talks about his work as an engineer in the healthcare space, what it takes to push a new idea forward and what the future holds for human-centered technology.

Ruth Supranovich is professor and associate dean of community and clinical programs at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and chief administrative officer of University Clinical Services. Ruth sheds light on what it means to be a social worker beyond the stereotypes, helping families and creating community programs, and translating all of this into the academic setting at USC. She shares what the past has taught her and what the future holds for her field.

Summer Decker is the inaugural director of the USC Center for Innovation and Medical Visualization at the Keck School of Medicine and a trailblazer in the field of 3D medical technology. A leader in developing cutting-edge applications for surgery, medical education and patient care, she continues to redefine how technology intersects with medicine. Driven by creativity and a passion for accessibility, her work continues to push the boundaries of innovation.

Vera Gluscevic is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at USC and a pioneering researcher in cosmology and dark matter studies. A founding member of multiple leading international collaborations on cosmology, she has helped shape the science that continues to unfold. Her work explores the mysteries of the universe and leverages computational modeling to unlock previously unknown frontiers.

Susan Kamei is Managing Director of the USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute, adjunct professor of history and is recognized as one of our country's most prominent scholars on the Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Her book When Can I Go Back to America: Voices of Japanese American Incarceration During World War II has received critical acclaim, and her background as a lawyer an activist fighting for restitution for Japanese Americans informs her current work in advancing the modern approach to national security and civil liberties.

Darby Saxbe is director of the USC Center for the Changing Family and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, who researches stress within the context of relationships. Darby's work focuses on the transition to parenthood and how it affects the neurobiology of adults. Her research investigates the biological, psycological and hormonal changes we experience due to changes in our environment.

David Raichlen is professor of biological sciences and director of USC's Evolutionary Biology of Physical Activity Laboratory. His research looks at how exercise affects the brain from an evolutionary standpoint. He examines how our ancestors' lifestyles—from activity on their feet to the way they sat down to rest—may shed light on modern health.

Assal Habibi is an associate professor of psychology at USC's Brain and Creativity Institute who, among other endeavors, is actively researching the influence of music on health and development, focusing on how our biology and experiences shape the brain and development of cognitive, emotional and social abilities across our lifespan.