Monthly Update – November 2021

It is strongly recommended to get a booster shot for COVID-19. California public health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible to help prevent a possible winter surge in COVID-19 cases. If you have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and 6 months or more have passed since your…

Monthly Update – October 2021

Alliance of Engaged Universities and Colleges: As a member of the Alliance of Engaged Universities and Colleges, hosted by the International Association for Research on Service-Learning & Community Engagement (IARSLCE), USC faculty, staff, students and community partners may join IARSLCE and attend the 2021 Virtual Gathering (Nov. 15-17) at no cost.  To become a member of…

Monthly Update – September 2021

Cases around campus continue to decrease. Thanks to all who continue to follow not coming to campus if you are ill; using Trojan Check; and wearing your masks. Updated guidance on events and travel will be forthcoming. Please send any questions you have to ehs@usc.edu. FACULTY ENGAGEMENT: Internal Funding Deadline Reminders: Strategic Directions for Research…

Monthly Update – August 2021

As we make our full return to fall restart, EH&S has drafted some best practices to follow (Classrooms, Food & Drink, Workplace). At this time masks are required indoors and strongly encouraged outdoors, especially in crowded areas. Additionally, distancing is encouraged whenever feasible. A layered approach to protection against COVID-19 is most effective as no single intervention is perfect at preventing…

Monthly Update – July 2021

The USC Research and Innovation (R&I) welcomes Ishwar Puri, USC’s new Vice President of Research, whose term starts on Aug 1, 2021. We are now in Phase 5 however, per the recent Health Alert, masks are required in all indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status. Interactive COVID-19 USC Reopening Guidelines are available on the EH&S website. Testing guidelines for…

Introducing Vice President of Research Ishwar Puri

We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Ishwar Puri will be joining our community as Vice President of Research, effective August 1, 2021. Dr. Puri comes to us from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he is dean of the engineering school, professor in the department of mechanical engineering, and an associate member of…

Monthly Update – June 2021

USC is currently in Phase IV and anticipates transitioning to Phase V soon. Clarifying guidance announcements will follow, including about research; up-to-date guidance about research is always found at research.usc.edu/coronavirus FACULTY ENGAGEMENT: Congratulations to our awardees! Please visit our website for all USC funding opportunities. Collaboration Fund: 15 proposals and reports were received, 11 were…

Monthly Update – May 2021

We are now in Phase IV, with research being at full capacity while adhering to USC’s physical distancing, PPE, and testing guidelines. For more information, please see Phases of Research Under COVID-19 and COVID-19 Research Continuity section.  USC will continue to monitor federal, state, and local public health guidelines, and respond accordingly.  FACULTY ENGAGEMENT:  Congratulations to our awardees! Please visit our website for all USC funding opportunities.  Strategic Directions in…

Monthly Update – April 2021

As the pandemic situation improves, USC is opening up. PhD, MS, and undergraduate students are now allowed to do research on campus, by being included on essential employee lists and/or provided with university employment verification letters. Find all research-related COVID-19 updates here.  More steps toward opening are expected soon, in accordance with approvals from the LA…

Monthly Update – March 2021

Researchers should continue to work with their school-level COVID-19 research processes.   We have entered Phase 3: research activity is ramped up from 50% to normal capacity, while continuing to adhere to physical distancing, PPE, and testing guidelines and vaccination recommendations. Major changes include: Allowing undergraduate researchers on campus, including summer programs for non-USC undergrads. Allowing booking summer research travel (trips…