Offices & People
USC Research and Innovation (OORI) is the university point of contact for submission of research proposals; identifying sources of research funding both inside and outside the university; and participation in, and initiation of, major inter-disciplinary university research programs and formation of research units.
We also provide training for pursuing major research and research funding opportunities; clearance for institutionally limited research competitions; financial disclosures and conflict of interest statements; and research ethics and handling research misconduct.
Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation
Ishwar K. Puri
Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation
Dr. Ishwar K. Puri is senior vice president of research and innovation at University of Southern California and guides the university’s research programs.
At USC, he also serves as professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, and professor of chemical engineering and material science.
He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and holds the Engineering Medal for Engineering Excellence awarded by Professional Engineers Ontario and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers.
Dr. Puri is the author of over 200 archival publications and books that have been cited over 8,500 times per Google Scholar with an H-Index of 53. He has founded and mentored startups. He is ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world based on the citations of those who published between 1965-2019.
Prior to his appointment at University of Southern California, Dr. Puri was dean of the Faculty of Engineering and professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In Canada, he was one of eighteen members of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, an appointment made by the Governor General of Canada. He served as chair of the Canadian National Council of Deans of Engineering and Applied Science, now called Engineering Deans Canada.
Before that, he was N. Waldo Harrison professor of engineering science and mechanics (ESM) at Virginia Tech where he served as department head from 2004-13.
He served as a postdoctoral fellow and Assistant Research Engineer at the University of California, San Diego from 1987-90.
Thereafter, he was appointed as assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 1990, promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure in 1994, and to the rank of professor in 1999. He served at UIC as associate dean for research and graduate studies (2000-01) and as executive associate dean of engineering (2001-04).
Dr. Puri serves on the editorial board of Scientific Reports, a Springer Nature journal, and is an associate editor of Research, a Science partner journal.
Erica Cardoza
Special Project Manager
Vice President of Research Administration and Operations
Jeri L. Muniz
Vice President of Research Administration and Operations
Jeri L. Muniz is the Vice President of Research Administration and Operations in the USC Office of Research and Innovation (OORI). Ms. Muniz brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, having begun her journey in research administration while a student at the University of California, Irvine. After receiving her B.A. in Psychology, she served in key positions within the UCI Office of Research. These roles provided broad exposure to research administration, including sponsored projects administration, human and animal subjects research, conflict of interest, and research compliance. Ms. Muniz joined the Trojan Family as the Executive Director for the Department of Contracts and Grants in March 2008 and assumed responsibility for the overall management and administration of pre- and post-award non-financial services related to extramural proposals and awards. In April 2024, she was promoted to Associate Vice President of Research Administration expanding her oversight and role in supporting the USC research community. As of June 2026, Ms. Muniz has assumed her current role, as Vice President of Research Administration and Operations.
Since assuming this role, Jeri has exhibited outstanding leadership, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to advancing research administration at USC. Her strategic perspectives and collaborative approach have become invaluable to fostering innovation and the excellence of our research administration enterprise.
In her role, Ms. Muniz is responsible for several key areas, including the Department of Contracts and Grants, Office of the Protection of Research Subjects, Department of Animal Resources, the operation of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Research Technology Services, and Office of Research Integrity. Her experience and expertise position her well to play a pivotal role in leading the OORI research administration team to ensure the robust growth and success of USC research.
Vice President for Research Partnerships and Innovation
Andy Wilson
Vice President for Research Partnerships and Innovation
Andy Wilson is the Vice President of Research Partnerships and Innovation in the USC Office of Research and Innovation (OORI). In this role, he leads USC’s efforts to expand the impact of university research through strategic partnerships, commercialization, entrepreneurship, venture activity, and external engagement.
Mr. Wilson brings more than three decades of leadership experience across innovation, business development, venture creation, public service, and higher education. He has founded and co-founded venture-backed companies, launched investment funds, and worked with organizations across health care, technology, civic innovation, and the Southern California innovation ecosystem. Before assuming his current role, he served as Vice President of Business Development for USC’s Office of Health Affairs, advancing strategic partnerships and innovation initiatives across Keck Medicine of USC and the university’s health enterprise.
As Vice President of Research Partnerships and Innovation, Mr. Wilson is responsible for building an integrated platform that connects USC researchers and innovations with industry, investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and other external partners. His portfolio includes the Stevens Center for Innovation, strategic research and grant initiatives including the Alfred Mann Institute, corporate and business development, entrepreneurship and startup engagement including Techstars, venture activities, and related programs that help translate USC discoveries into real-world impact.
Mr. Wilson is focused on strengthening USC’s ability to move ideas from the laboratory, classroom, and research enterprise into the marketplace and community. His work emphasizes deeper industry engagement, stronger support for faculty innovation, expanded pathways for commercialization and venture creation, and positioning USC as a leading institution for research-driven impact in Los Angeles, Southern California, and beyond.
A longtime civic and innovation leader, Mr. Wilson served on the Pasadena City Council and as Vice Mayor of Pasadena. He currently serves on the Hollywood Burbank Airport Commission and the Board of Trustees of LAist/Southern California Public Radio. He is also a co-founder of the Alliance for Southern California Innovation and Innovate Pasadena. Mr. Wilson holds an engineering degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Alfred E. Mann Institute
The Alfred E. Mann Institute (USC AMI) bridges the gap between biomedical innovation and the creation of commercially successful medical products.
Tariq Warsi
Managing Director
Department of Animal Resources
The Department of Animal Resources (DAR) provides and ensures appropriate care in all aspects of USC animal research.
Ari Aycock-Williams
Executive Director
Department of Contracts and Grants
The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) supports USC’s investigators from proposal development to award closeout, ensuring that USC’s sponsored project agreements are consistent with university standards for academic freedom, research ethics, and fiscal responsibility.
Katie Rountree
Executive Director
Department of Contracts and Grants
DCG Staff Directory
Human Research Protection and Research Technology
Martin Koning-Bastiaan
Executive Director
Human Research Protection and Research Technology
HRPRT Staff Directory
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees USC’s animal programs, animal facilities, and policies ensuring appropriate care, ethical use and humane treatment of animals.
Research Integrity
The mission of Research Integrity (ORI) is to foster a culture of integrity within the entire USC research community. The office works at university, school, and department levels to educate faculty, staff, trainees and students about responsible conduct in research and laboratory practices.
Dr. W. Martin Kast
Research Integrity Officer
Research and Innovation Strategy
The Research and Innovation Strategy (RIS), formed in 2006, is a service resource for USC that strategically pursues competitive federal funding opportunities with a targeted focus on large, multidisciplinary research endeavors.
Robyn Hejmej
Executive Director
USC Stevens Center for Innovation
As the technology licensing office for the University of Southern California, the Stevens Center for Innovation plays a key role in Southern California’s innovation ecosystem.
Erin Overstreet
Executive Director