USC Global Conference

John O’Brien

John O’Brien is the executive vice dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and interim director at the Information Sciences Institute (ISI). At the USC Viterbi School, he previously served as senior associate dean for academic affairs from 2006 to 2011, and was responsible for faculty affairs, the Office for Admissions and Student Affairs, and the Office for Graduate Affairs.

O’Brien is a professor of electrical engineering-electrophysics.  He received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Iowa State University in 1991, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1993 and 1996, respectively.  He joined USC in 1997 as an assistant professor.  In 1999 he received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, and in 2000 was awarded a National Science Foundation Career Award.  John was promoted to professor of electrical engineering in 2006.  His research interests are in nanophotonics and photonic crystal devices.