Synopsis
Welcome to life at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Classes, student organizations, faculty, research, hands-on projects, and don't forget our social lives outside of class - its all up for discussion with regular appearances and interviews with special guests. Viterbi Voices: The Podcast is hosted by Paul Ledesma (Director, Undergraduate Admission) and current student Rhea Choudhury (Biomedical Engineering, Class of 2019).
Episodes
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Viterbi Club Spotlight: CAIS++
09/03/2025 Duration: 58minIn this episode, Hannah (ME '27) sits down with Naina and Jay from CAIS++ to dive into the world of AI for social good. They discuss how the Center for AI in Society Student Branch is using artificial intelligence to tackle real-world problems, what it's like to be part of an AI-focused student organization, and how aspiring engineers can get involved in ethical AI research. Tune in to hear their insights on the future of AI, the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, and the impact students can make in the field.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Research at USC: The CURVE Fellowship
05/03/2025 Duration: 52minIn this episode, Sophie (CHE ’28) and her engineering friends talk about their experience with CURVE, a research opportunity offered by Viterbi. They discuss their first experiences with research, and what it’s like to work in labs on campus. Whether it’s working with air foils in the Dryden Wind Tunnel, or working with computational chemistry, CURVE offers unique research experiences for any engineering major.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Kyle’s Journey - Four Epic Years of Involvement & All Things Civil Engineering
24/02/2025 Duration: 47minIn this episode, Mitchell Kirby (CE ‘26) got the chance to sit down with Kyle Revale, an inspiring senior studying Civil Engineering. Kyle has a focus on Construction Management and will be graduating with his Master’s in Construction Management in December. Kyle is very involved at USC, and they had a great conversation about ways to get engaged in extracurriculars and what Kyle’s four years of leadership and experience looked like with some advice for those applying to USC.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Early Start: Career Development as an Underclassman
17/02/2025 Duration: 51minIn this episode, Xavier speaks with Christian Corona, a fellow sophomore in civil engineering, talking about how to get an early start on professional opportunities and work on your career as an underclassman. They talk about organizations, career fairs, excursions, and their own experiences. Whether you're also on the intership search or don't even have a resume, take a listen! Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Hobbies and Passions: Life Outside of Engineering
10/02/2025 Duration: 42minIn this episode, Gerson and his biomedical engineering student friends talk about their "5-9s" after their "9-5s." From dancing and music to swimming and investing, they discuss their passions and pursuits beyond the classroom. Tune in for a glimpse into their exciting lives outside of engineering.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Rocket Propulsion Lab, Space-Related Research & Internships, and USC Sports with Kaleigh Ray (ASTE ’25)
02/02/2025 Duration: 53minIn this episode, Saafiyah chats with Kaleigh Ray (ASTE ’25) about all things Rocket Propulsion Lab (RPL). They discuss the teams within RPL that Kaleigh has been a part of, how she got involved, and the records the club has broken. Kaleigh also shares insights into her space-related research, her internships, and how she balances it all alongside her involvement in USC sports and other activities outside of academics. Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Environmental Engineering, Design Team Competitions, and Finding Community at USC with Sejal and Ivan (ENE '26)
27/01/2025 Duration: 51minIn this episode, Saafiyah sits down with Sejal and Ivan, Environmental Engineering majors at USC. They share their experiences on environmental design competition teams, their involvement in various environmental and identity-based clubs, and how they’ve found community at USC through classes and extracurriculars.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Civil Engineering, The Navy, & the USC MBA for Veterans with Marcelle Phené, MBA '25, CE '10
19/01/2025 Duration: 01h51minIn this episode, Paul interviews USC alumna Marcelle Phené, a civil engineering graduate who has worked with several companies and served in the U.S. Navy. She shares how her engineering background played a role in her military service and career journey. Marcelle also discusses her professional journey since then and her decision to return to USC for an MBA.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Ask Us Anything - First Year Admission LIVE Q&A
13/01/2025 Duration: 01h08minTo kick off the second half of season 10, our Viterbi admission counselors answer your hard-pressed questions about first-year admission to USC. In this episode, they cover a range of common topics, from providing insights into the application process to whether there is a "secret sauce" to stand out. Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Viterbi Club Spotlight: Makers
09/12/2024 Duration: 48minIn this episode, Hansini speaks with three members (Alexandra, Mitch, and Alanna) of Makers, an electronics design team at USC. They talk about their shared experience in the club, experience working on different project teams, and opportunities for leadership and networking. Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Early Start: Career Development as an Underclassman
01/12/2024 Duration: 01h07minIn this episode, Xavier speaks with Christian Corona, a fellow sophomore in civil engineering, talking about how to get an early start on professional opportunities and work on your career as an underclassman. They talk about organizations, career fairs, excursions, and their own experiences. Whether you're also on the internship search or don't even have a resume, take a listen! Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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The Road to Graduation
27/11/2024 Duration: 01h21minTaylor and her senior peers reflect on their past seven semesters at USC, recognize their growth and accomplishments, and share advice for anyone in their academic journey!Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Navigating College as an International Student
18/11/2024 Duration: 42minIn this episode, Saafiyah sits down with Joel Etchri, a mechanical engineering student from Macau, as he reflects on his college journey in Los Angeles. Joel opens up about the challenges and rewards of studying far from home, navigating a new culture, and adjusting to life in the U.S. He also offers advice to fellow international students on how to thrive in a foreign environment.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Beyond the Circuit: Unraveling Misconceptions in ECE
10/11/2024 Duration: 56minIn this episode, Cecilia reflects with Leire, Jessica, and Talise on their experiences so far as Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) majors. They discuss what they got wrong and right about their major, and what advice they would give themselves if they started at USC all over again.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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MEDesign: Why does your heart beat for BME?
04/11/2024 Duration: 59minIn this episode, Ishaani sits down with Matthew (BME '26) and Eddie (BME '26), members of MEDesign, USCs premier medical device design club. Join them as they explore how Biomedical Engineering students in MEDesign are turning their passion for innovation into real-world projects, and discover what drives these engineers to push the boundaries of medical technology through their experiences on their design teams.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Life At USC: Balancing Engineering while Maximizing Your College Experience
27/10/2024 Duration: 01h14minIn this episode, Karissa speaks with Krishna Srikanth, a fellow Viterbi student, to discuss life at USC while pursuing rigorous majors and minors. They chat about everything related to enjoying life and doing well at USC: social life, clubs, internships, classes, and more!Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Women in Engineering: Voices of Viterbi's Club Presidents
20/10/2024 Duration: 01h22minIn this episode, Hannah speaks with some of the fabulous women in engineering leading Viterbi Clubs and Organizations. They discuss their time in SWE, CAIS++, ScopeSC, ADT, and Shift along with their experience at Viterbi and beyond!Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Exploring Computer Science Programs at Viterbi
15/10/2024 Duration: 45minIn this episode, USC Viterbi students Riya, Cody, Aditya, and Agnes share their experiences in various Computer Science programs. They discuss how they chose the right computer science major for them, their classes, and how they balance their coursework with other classes.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Recruitment Rewind: Senior Engineers Speak
07/10/2024 Duration: 35minIn this episode, we sit down with a senior Mechanical Engineering student and a senior Industrial Engineering student to discuss their experiences with recruiting in their final year of college. They share valuable insights, strategies, and tips on how to navigate the job hunt, prepare for interviews, and stand out to employers in a competitive market.Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!
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Life after Biomedical Engineering: A Post-Graduate Perspective
29/09/2024 Duration: 56minIn this episode, Gerson chats with recently graduated friends that studied Biomedical Engineering at USC. They talk about what they have been up to, law school, medical school, industry, consulting, research, and plenty more!Text us a Question or Comment - it may be on our next episode!