A Letter from the Executive Vice Provost

You are joining USC at a pivotal moment in our history.  As one of the world’s great research universities, we believe our highest responsibility is to serve the global public good.  A primary way we do this is by advancing our research mission with the full participation of outstanding postdoctoral scholars like you!

We established the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in order to support postdoctoral scholars in the critical roles they play.  As a new scholar, you are now an integral part of USC’s vibrant community.  You will receive training by some of the finest research faculty in the world.  You will engage in groundbreaking research projects with access to the latest technology and databases, and to the world’s most important archives.  USC has invested heavily in its biomedical and health enterprises, the physical and life sciences, and engineering, which helped boost annual research funding to over $700 million in 2016.

While most young postdoctoral scholars work in the sciences, engineering, medicine and other health-related fields, USC recognizes the increasingly important role of postdoctoral training in other fields.  The Postdoctoral Scholars in the Humanities program supports scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences through USC’s Society of Fellows in the Humanities, which includes cultural events, seminars, presentations and support from outstanding faculty mentors across the university.

In addition, while you are here, we hope you will participate in our Postdoctoral Association.  The Association receives funding from the Office of the Provost to enrich the postdoctoral community through professionalization and social events.  We also invite you to take advantage of all the events that happen on campus every day.  We especially invite you to attend Visions and Voices events – an events list is available online.

We are delighted you have chosen USC at this critical stage of your life and we look forward to helping you succeed and advance your career.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Graddy, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Provost 
Jeffrey J. Miller Chair in Government, Business and the Economy and Professor of Public Policy in the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy