New CAIS Co-Director Phebe Vayanos was also recently announced as Viterbi Early Career Chair in Engineering.
Phebe Vayanos is a badass when it comes to using artificial intelligence and operations research to tackle big problems and make the world a better place. She’s all about solving urgent crises like homelessness in Los Angeles and protecting biodiversity in South America’s vulnerable rainforests.
Vayanos, a total rockstar who’s an associate professor in the Daniel J. Epstein Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, is now stepping up as the co-director of USC’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society (CAIS). This center, which started back in 2016, is all about using innovative AI solutions to tackle society’s most pressing problems. It’s seriously groundbreaking stuff. Vayanos will be leading CAIS, alongside the brilliant Associate Professor of Computer Science Bistra Dilkina and Professor of Social Work Eric Rice.
CAIS brings together a bunch of experts from different fields at USC and partner institutions. They cover everything from homelessness and suicide prevention to conservation, public health, and disaster planning. These folks are on a mission to make the world a better place, and Vayanos has been a key player since the beginning.
But now, as co-director, she’s ready to take things to the next level. She’s passionate about finding AI solutions for homelessness and resource allocation. Vayanos and her team have been working closely with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to develop better tools and algorithms to prioritize and match people with housing and resources. They’re all about reducing racial disparities and helping youth successfully exit homelessness.
But Vayanos isn’t stopping there. She wants to expand the center’s footprint in homelessness research and solutions by partnering with government agencies, nonprofits, and policymakers. She’s even planning a conference in Washington, D.C. to showcase the latest research and help shape policy. This woman is unstoppable!
Before joining USC, Vayanos was making waves at MIT, where she was all about operations research and statistics. And she’s received all kinds of awards and recognition for her incredible work. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the world of AI and engineering.
So keep an eye out for Phebe Vayanos because she’s changing the game and using artificial intelligence to make the world a better place. And remember, this is just the beginning.
Published on August 22nd, 2023
Last updated on August 22nd, 2023
