Dr. Burcin Becerik Gerber

Professor

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Biography

Burçin Becerik-Gerber is the Dean's Professor in the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California. She is the founder and Director of the USC Center for Intelligent Environments (CENTIENTS). With over 15 years of research experience, she has focused on advanced data acquisition, modeling, and visualization in design and construction, emphasizing user-centered responsive adaptive built environments. Dr. Becerik-Gerber pioneered the field of Human-Building Interaction (HBI), which addresses the complex interplay between human experience and built environments. Her work has been published in more than 200 peer-reviewed journals and conference papers and has attracted over $14 million in support from various funding sources including the NSF and DoE. Recognized as one of MIT’s Technology Review's top 35 innovators under 35 in 2012, she received numerous awards, including the FIATECH Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation Award in 2018 and the Emmy Award in 2022 for her role in producing a documentary focused on engineering innovation. In 2021, she was elected to the National Academy of Construction and currently serves on the Board of the Infrastructure and Constructed Environment National Academies. Dr. Becerik-Gerber also contributes as an Associate Editor for several prestigious journals in civil engineering.

Research Interests

Awards

#2024

ASCE’s Peurifoy Construction Research Award

2024-01-01
#2024

ASCE Fellow

2024-01-01
#2024

ASCE’s Henry L. Michel Award for Industry Advancement Research

2024-01-01
#2023

ASCE’s Computing Civil Engineering Award

2023-01-01
#2023

Los Angeles Business Journal, Leaders Influence: Thriving 40s Profile

2023-01-01
#2022

Academy Television Arts & Sciences, Los Angeles Area Emmy

2022-01-01
#2021

Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering, and Science (ELATES) Fellowship

2021-01-01
#2021

Elected National Academy of Construction

2021-01-01
#2020

Outstanding Engineering Merit Award

2020-01-01
#2018

Outstanding Early Career Researcher, Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation Award

2018-01-01
#2018

Rutherford Visiting Fellowship

2018-01-01
#2017

Mellon Mentoring Award

2017-01-01
#2016

USC Viterbi Junior Faculty Research Award

2016-01-01
#2014

NSF Early CAREER Award

2014-01-01
#2013

National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering invitation

2013-01-01
#2012

Stephen Shrank Early Career Chair

2012-01-01
#2012

MIT Technology Review Top 35 Innovators Under 35

2012-01-01
#2010

National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Education invitation

2010-01-01
#2004

Donald S. Barrie Award

2004-01-01
#2004

Wilson-Zells Academic Scholarship

2004-01-01

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:100
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in engineering or related science
Application Checklist
  • Official transcripts
  • GRE General scores
  • TOEFL scores (International)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal Statement
Specialization Notes

Requires general GRE for all graduate degrees.