Dr. Costas Synolakis

Professor

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Biography

Costas Synolakis studies the impact of natural hazards, particularly tsunamis, extreme flooding events, and beach erosion. He has led or participated in 30 scientific expeditions across twenty countries, exploring the world's oceans and seas. His work in places like Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Sri Lanka has been groundbreaking and highly cited. Appointed as an assistant professor in 1985, he became a full professor in 1996 at USC's Viterbi School of Engineering. Here, he founded the USC Tsunami Research Center, developing operational codes used by tsunami warning centers in the US and Australia. Notably, after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, the center received significant traffic as interest surged globally. Professor Synolakis has received major awards such as the Moffat Nichol Coastal Engineering Award and the Sergey Soloviev Medal from the European Geophysical Union. His research includes understanding tsunami amplification phenomena and modeling various natural hazards. His public outreach efforts encompass lectures and documentaries produced by renowned organizations like National Geographic and the BBC. He also authored editorials in notable publications, addressing the impacts and management of natural disasters.

Research Interests

Awards

#2015

Moffat Nichol Coastal Engineering Award

2015-01-01
#2019

International Coastal Engineering Award

2019-01-01
#2014

Sergey Soloviev Medal

2014-01-01
#1989

Presidential Young Investigator

1989-01-01
#2001

Leadership in Emergency Preparedness

2001-01-01

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.