Subsurface energy data science, image courtesy of Behnam Jafarpour
Energi Simulation, a Canadian nonprofit organization supporting global energy innovation, has renewed its sponsorship of the Energi Simulation Industrial Research Chair in Subsurface Energy Data Science at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. The contribution will be for a total of $1,000,000 Canadian (~US$724,000) over a 5-year term.
The Chair, held by Professor Behnam Jafarpour, a leading expert in data science and computational geoscience in the Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, was first awarded in 2016 and once extended in 2022. Over the past nine years, with a total funding of $2.30 million Canadian dollars (~US$1.75 million), this partnership has supported a team of researchers focused on applying data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning to model, monitor, and optimize subsurface energy systems—including carbon dioxide storage and geothermal energy.
Under Jafarpour’s leadership, the program has advanced innovations in real-time subsurface modeling, built new AI tools for carbon dioxide monitoring and prediction, and helped train the next generation of energy researchers and leaders, forming a robust pipeline of scientific talent in subsurface energy.
Energi Simulation at USC for the Subsurface Energy Data Science Research Chair’s annual industry advisory committee meeting (April 2025)
Through its emphasis on addressing industry research needs, the Chair has also played an important role in the formation of the CO₂-SMART Center, a multi-university research collaboration funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). By leveraging the foundational research and industry support established through the Energi Simulation Chair, the USC-led team successfully secured NSF support to launch this center, with focus on safe, scalable, and cost-effective deployment of the geologic CO₂ storage technology.
“We’re developing advanced AI-driven tools for prediction and decision support in subsurface systems—combining physics-based modeling with machine learning to better understand and manage complex processes like carbon storage, geothermal energy, and sustainable resource development,” said Jafarpour. “This renewal allows us to scale up our impact over the next five years.”
As the energy landscape evolves, the program will continue to advance novel approaches for understanding and managing of subsurface systems—drawing on AI, data science, and domain expertise to inform smarter, more sustainable energy solutions. Jafarpour underscores that graduate students and early-career researchers are at the heart of this effort, driving innovation and shaping the future of the field.
“We’ll continue supporting a large cohort of PhD researchers who are the core of our innovation engine,” he said. “We’re also strengthening partnerships with industry to ensure our research addresses real-world needs.”
The application areas covered in this program are well-aligned with other key initiatives within the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. These include the Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (ECET), which addresses a broader spectrum of research topics in energy resources, decarbonization, and sustainability, creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The recently launched School of Advanced Computing at USC Viterbi is highly relevant in advancing AI for Energy, namely the application of artificial intelligence to improve energy systems, and Energy for AI, which explores how energy infrastructure can support the growing computational demands of AI. These important synergies provide a strong foundation for this Chair program to accelerate innovation, scale up impact, and contribute to the development of intelligent, sustainable energy solutions that are critical for both the energy transition and the future of AI.
“I’m very excited about this next chapter,” Jafarpour added. “Modernizing our energy systems requires bold ideas and advanced technologies like AI—and at the same time, AI depends on sustainable energy solutions to reach its full potential. Thanks to Energi Simulation’s continued support, we’re uniquely positioned to lead innovation at the intersection of AI and energy science, while training the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of both fields.”
“We’re pleased to renew our partnership with USC and Professor Jafarpour,” said Duke Anderson, Energi Simulation president. “Their work exemplifies our mission to support transformative research that addresses global energy challenges.”
About USC Viterbi School Engineering
Founded in 1905, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering was named in 2004 as the Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, honoring USC alumnus Andrew Viterbi, who developed an algorithm to connect the world, and his wife Erna. Located in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology, business and innovation in the heart of the Pacific Rim, USC Viterbi draws undergraduate and graduate students from all over the world and has more than 10,000 students, 400 faculty across all ranks and appointment levels. With its vision of engineering a better world for all humanity, USC Viterbi, which is consistently ranked among the top engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report, embodies the power of engineering (Engineering+) to advance discovery and solutions across all disciplines to serve the world. In 2024, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering launched the School of Advanced Computing, thus creating a new “school within a school.”
About Energi Simulation
Founded in 1978, Energi Simulation promotes and financially supports research and graduate students through research grants at universities. Our mandate is to invest in leading edge research and innovation in energy resource modelling. Energi Simulation partners with universities, governments, and industry sponsors to drive unique multi-year support of student education and world leading researchers at universities, in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia-Pacific region. Energi Simulation is a not-for-profit company registered in the province of Alberta, Canada.
Published on August 27th, 2025
Last updated on October 8th, 2025
