The University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing is proud to welcome six new tenured/tenure-track faculty members to the college. This increases the college’s faculty count to 131 members and continues its expansive faculty growth.

The recent faculty hires include a NSF Early Career Award recipient and represent the college’s emphasis on growing its newly founded Artificial Intelligence Institute.
 
“Our college continues to grow by continuing to hire world-class faculty members such as these six new faculty members,” said Hossein Haj-Hariri, dean of the UofSC College of Engineering and Computing. “It is this commitment to hiring excellent faculty that will allow us to continue delivering a superior learning experience to our students. The hiring also fuels our growth in scholarship and research productivity, which has already increased by over 70% these past four years.”

Forest Agostinelli, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, AI Institute

Dr. Agostinelli's research involves designing new artificial intelligence algorithms and applying these algorithms to problems in the sciences. Simultaneously, his research draws upon the sciences to provide inspiration for new artificial intelligence algorithms. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine in 2019.

Kristen Booth, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering

Dr. Booth's research is focused on power grid modernization through the use of optimized power electronic converters. Key areas of interest include DC microgrids, electric vehicles, and higher frequency transformers. She received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at North Carolina State University in 2019.

Biplav Srivastava, Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, AI Institute

Dr. Srivastava's research explores new approaches for goal-oriented, ethical, human-machine collaboration via natural interfaces using domain and user models, learning, and planning. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science at Arizona State University in 2000.

Yavuz Yapici, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering

Dr. Yapici's research interests span a broad range of topics from communications and signal processing. In particular, his current research focuses on spectrum- and energy-efficient intelligent communications for beyond 5G, multiuser mmWave/THz communications, wireless testbed development, and visible light communications. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey in 2011.

Qi Zhang, Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, AI Institute

Dr. Zhang's research interests are in artificial intelligence and reinforcement learning. He develops and analyzes decision-making algorithms for uncertain, dynamic environments. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2020.

Caizhi Zhou, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Zhou's research focuses on understand the fundamental strengthening, deformation and failure mechanisms of advanced structural materials, by integrating both experimental and computational approaches, and provide a scientific basis for design and processing advanced materials with superior properties. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State University in 2010.