Students in the IUSSTF – Viterbi Program (Photo/Courtesy of Cauligi S. Raghavendra)
Abhijith Shaji, an IIT Tirupati student from India, walked into the USC Information Sciences Institute’s (ISI) Marina del Rey offices every morning to the sight of the Pacific Ocean from his office window.
Although the view was a highlight, his summer experience was defined by the research he conducted under Jose-Luis Ambite, a USC Viterbi research associate professor of computer science. Shaji was one of 15 exceptional students selected for the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF)-Viterbi Program.
The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering launched this program over a decade ago to address a critical gap in research careers for Indian students. “The idea was to attract top-quality students to our Ph.D. program and connect with the best institutions in India,” said Cauligi S. Raghavendra, USC Viterbi vice dean of global academic initiatives, who oversees the program.
Another participant, Abhishek Mukherjee, who attended the program in 2021, highlighted how USC shaped his academic journey. “They encouraged us to make our presentation shorter and helped students learn this art of clearly and concisely putting eight weeks of research into a five-minute presentation,” said Abhishek, a current Ph.D. student at M.I.T.
He also emphasized the significance of mentorship during his internship. Speaking about his supervisor, Professor Michelle Povinelli. “She was extremely nice and extremely supportive. I think definitely one of the biggest reasons why I enjoyed this program so much was because of her.” said Abhishek.
Participants spend eight weeks at USC working on advanced research projects under world-renowned faculty. The program is an intensive introduction to high-level research and academic collaboration. The Indian exchange students, who attend the summer program for free, give a short presentation about their research project at the end of the session.
For many Indian students, the program’s impact extends well beyond their time at USC. Shaji, for instance, began a challenging neuroimaging project with Professor Ambite during his internship in summer 2023. While they couldn’t complete the project during the program, Shaji and his mentor continued working together afterwards.
“We managed to find time and then complete the project in India itself,” Shaji said. The collaboration not only strengthened ties between USC and his home university but also paved the way for his Ph.D. acceptance at USC.
During Shaji’s time at USC, he also worked with prominent neuroscientists like Paul Thompson, professor of ophthalmology, neurology, psychiatry and the behavioral sciences, radiology, psychiatry, electrical and computer engineering, and biomedical engineering.
Around 25% of participants follow a similar path as Shaji, pursuing Ph.D. programs at USC and other top institutions.
While the program has had undeniable success, funding remains a challenge.
“Costs used to be about $5,000 per student. Now it has gone to $8,000 at least,” Raghavendra said. “Travel, living expenses, health insurance—it all adds up.” Despite these financial hurdles, the program continues to thrive, and discussions about potential expansion are ongoing. “If somebody gives a million dollars, we can name this program,” Raghavendra added, emphasizing the potential for growth.
For students like Shaji, this isn’t just a summer internship—it’s the start of a transformative academic journey. “The mentorship at USC inspired me to embrace a future in research,” he said.
The IUSSTF-Viterbi Program has gained a strong reputation among India’s top engineering institutions, thanks to the tightly connected networks among students. “People are really, really connected, at least across Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs),” Shaji said. “There’s 23 IITs in India together, and people all have some friends here and there.” These networks, he said, ensure that word about the program spreads quickly among students eager to explore international research opportunities.
For many, these connections translate into direct outreach. “There’s actually a lot of people who reached out to me on LinkedIn, to try to get some advice on how to apply,” Shaji said. “USC has a lot of resources for research. There’s a lot of advanced techniques and materials, and you get to meet a lot of people.”
Published on April 11th, 2025
Last updated on April 11th, 2025
