Dr. Phebe Vayanos

Associate Professor

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Biography

Phebe Vayanos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Department of Computer Science at the University of Southern California. As the Co-Director of the CAIS Center and ORAI interdisciplinary PhD Program, her work focuses on advancing integer, stochastic, and robust optimization, with applications in machine learning, causal inference, and economics. Her efforts are directed toward designing predictive and prescriptive models that are robust, interpretable, fair, and suitable for deployment in high-stakes environments, particularly to support underserved and marginalized communities. She has received prestigious awards including the NSF CAREER Award and the USC Viterbi Junior Research Award, and serves as an Associate Editor for multiple leading journals. Her research has been supported by various esteemed organizations, including the National Science Foundation and the Hilton Foundation. Dr. Vayanos has a PhD in Operations Research and an MEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Imperial College London.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2013-01-01 — Present

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Department of Computer Science, focusing on optimization and machine learning.

Awards

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USC Viterbi Junior Research Award

2022-01-01
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NSF CAREER Award

2021-01-01
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INFORMS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Ambassador Program Award

2020-01-01

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:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.