In November 2015, the USC Information Sciences Institute received its first-ever philanthropic gift: the Michael and Linda Keston Executive Directorship Endowment. Under the stewardship of inaugural Michael Keston Executive Director Craig Knoblock, the endowment is advancing the Institute's mission to conduct groundbreaking research in diverse scientific areas including artificial intelligence, computer architecture, bioinformatics, information and data management, quantum computing, networking, communications technologies, and social analytics.

Michael and Linda Keston

Donors Michael and Linda Keston

Michael Keston has a lengthy and distinguished relationship with USC. He has served on boards and executive committees, and has taught in the university's real estate development program for more than 20 years. As an entrepreneur and philanthropist deeply involved with the university, Keston and his wife contribute to causes they consider important to the world – and to people with whom they’d like to work. ISI’s talented, wide-ranging researchers quickly caught Keston’s attention. "When I became aware of the technological advances that were taking place at ISI,” he said, “the engineer in me wanted to be a part of what helps them occur."

Program for ISI Researcher in Residence

The researcher-in-residence program provides talented individuals with a unique opportunity to pursue creative research in areas broadly related to information sciences. Young, innovative researchers will be able to apply their knowledge and scientific curiosity to create groundbreaking technologies, without administrative or other distractions, for one to two years.

The Michael and Linda Keston endowment will help diversify the Institute's research portfolio by recruiting and funding researchers-in-residence. Individuals will be aided by ISI's exceptional scientific and educational environment, and by its large, deep pool of world-class researchers. Please visit our Researcher in Residence page for a detailed description.