{"id":146,"date":"2021-10-22T20:15:07","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T20:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isi.edu\/centers-serc\/?page_id=146"},"modified":"2026-03-14T02:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T02:13:17","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.isi.edu\/centers-serc\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

SERC combines disruptive space R&D, hands-on education of the second-generation workforce, and industry collaboration that delivers concrete benefits to our students and corporate partners.<\/p>\n

The only “engineering teaching hospital”\u00a0of its kind within the context of a diverse research university, SERC teaches students to build, test and fly actual spacecraft and satellites.\u00a0 We also prepare them for a radically different, democratized environment in which a burgeoning number of nations and private enterprises will compete to reduce costs, enable novel capabilities and re-envision what space means to Earth.<\/p>\n

Strength in Diversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As a joint effort of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and its Information Sciences Institute (ISI), SERC combines the depth of USC academic research with the pragmatism of hands-on space development.<\/p>\n

Labs and physical spaces are located both on the USC main campus in Los Angeles and in nearby Marina del Rey, where ISI is based.\u00a0 Leadership includes faculty with diverse academic and industry experience from both institutions.\u00a0 SERC collaborates with government labs, industry and other USC schools and departments.\u00a0 Funding is provided by federal agency grants, industry partners and other sources.<\/p>\n

The “Teaching Hospital” Model<\/strong><\/h3>\n

SERC operates as the engineering equivalent of a teaching hospital.\u00a0 USC faculty, research faculty and professional staff serve as the practicing physicians.\u00a0 Graduate and undergraduate students are the equivalent of residents and interns.\u00a0 As in a medical setting, faculty and staff steer students at all levels.<\/p>\n

More advanced students are able to mentor newer ones.\u00a0 Project implementation is handled by faculty, staff and students.\u00a0 The results are a rich learning environment and teams able to support larger, more diverse research projects than could an academic or applied environment alone.<\/p>\n

Lofty Vision, Concrete Goals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Our vision<\/a>:\u00a0 to conduct research and provide a second-generation workforce with transformative impact on space science and technology.\u00a0\u00a0 There is no shortage of space challenges.\u00a0 SERC exists not only to help address them, but to create new cross domain innovations to spur imaginations and insight of those who will tackle them next.<\/p>\n

Download the SERC Brochure<\/a><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SERC combines disruptive space R&D, hands-on education of the second-generation workforce, and industry collaboration that delivers concrete benefits to our students and corporate partners. 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