Women in Engineering

Follow your Passion

Women like you are critical to the future success of the engineering profession.

Your generation is going out even out the engineering experience, and we are leading the way. Our incoming class of first year women is consistently more than double the national average in recent years. Our women also thrive in engineering here because we offer the right support. We have our own Women in Engineering program, as well as a very active chapters of female-focused student organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, RoboGals, Girls in Tech, AtheaHacks, Women in Computing, and our engineering sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon.

Our faculty continue to increase the number of females almost year by year with one of the largest representations in engineering schools today. Female faculty not only teach your classes, but they also lead teams of researchers in making strides toward advancing solutions to the NAE Grand Challenges.

Women in the 2017 Viterbi Incoming Class

National Average of Women in Engineering

Supporting Women in Engineering

The Viterbi School offers over 30 unique majors and areas of emphasis. Our women flourish in an environment focused on collaboration and teamwork. Group projects promote communication over competition and prepare our students for engineering in the real world.

Women are also very involved in their organizations on campus. Engineering student organizations leadership finds women leading the pack. Over 70% of executive board positions are held by women, and women engineers are also active in leadership outside of Viterbi as well.

Student Life

Female students in the Viterbi School participate in a number of activities across campus in addition to engineering related organizations. The student chapters of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Women in Computing, and the engineering sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon are integral parts of Women in Engineering in addition to numerous undergraduate research opportunities with specific funding available to women.

As a member of these organizations, you will find opportunities to expand your professional and social network, get involved in community outreach programs, gain access to continuing student scholarships, travel to conferences, and have opportunities to develop as a leader.

Corporate Connections

WIE aims to connect our female students with industry through a number of programs. targeted career panels expose our female students to the life of real engineers. Our students learn about the benefits of engineering and discover pathways to prepare them for some of the challenges they may face as female engineers.

Our women also benefit from the corporate involvement within Viterbi Career Connections and the Industry Advisory Board. These organizations help prepares students for the job recruitment process and introduce them to guest speakers and industry representatives.

Focused on Your Success

Women in the Viterbi School are some of the most successful students, and they rise to leadership positions within the school and across the university. We are committed to supporting your success by developing programs based on your interests.

Our women hold a monthly round table lunch series to discuss resources regarding academic, career, and health related topics. Recent sessions have covered undergraduate research, applying to graduate school, women and innovation, and all around wellness and stress management.

Mentoring is a priority and works to strengthen the community of our women by providing the opportunity to participate in different online platforms as well as develop various programs to build mentor-protege relationships among alumni and peers.

Giving Back

WIE Connect is a community outreach program planned and executed by current WIE students. This program brings high school girls from local areas to campus to learn about opportunities and careers in engineering as well as how to prepare for college engineering programs.

This day long program includes lab tours, panel discussions, and the opportunity to interact with female engineering faculty and students.

There are also opportunities to give back to the community through female student organizations.

Female Faculty Accolades

Andrea Armani

Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Dr. Armani is a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers as well as on of Technology Reviews top 35 innovators under 35. Dr. Armani conducts research with undergraduates involving nanosensors and also teaches an undergraduate course in nanomaterials and nanodevices.

Ellis Meng

Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Meng is a faculty member in the biomedical engineering department, and she is one of Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry's 40 Medtech Innovators Under 40 for her entrepreneurship, leadership, and research to advance medical micro-devices, as well as one of Technology Reviews top 35 innovators under 35. Dr. Meng's research focuses on delivering wireless medication to pediatric patients.

Maja Matarić

Computer Science

Dr. Matarić has received numerous accolades including being named a TR top 35 innovators under 35, one of Business Insiders top 25 Most Powerful Women Engineers in Tech, and the Presidential Award Winner for Excellenece in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring. Dr. Matarić is very involved in STEM outreach programs, and runs the USC Interaction lab, creating robots to help people

Burcin Becerik-Gerber

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr. Becerik-Gerber has also been named to TR's 35 innovators under 35. Dr. Becerik-Gerber's research focuses on the efficient construction of buildings, and understanding the habits of the buildings occupants to reduce energy consumption in buildings and increase comfort. Her collaborations include social psychology as well as computer science to better understand her users.