Dr. Stephen Lu

Professor

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Biography

Professor Stephen Lu, David Packard Chair in Manufacturing at the University of Southern California, is a distinguished researcher, educator, and education entrepreneur. He has excelled in both academic and business realms, holding an endowed professorship and supporting multiple international organizations through advisory roles. His research interests focus on design thinking, collaborative engineering, technological innovation, and education reform. At USC, he pioneered the Product Development Engineering master's degree and initiated the global iPodia (ViP) education program. In 2012, he founded the iPodia Alliance, a consortium of leading universities promoting a 'classrooms-without-borders' approach. Professor Lu has authored over 300 technical publications and has been a keynote speaker at numerous domestic and international conferences. He has served on editorial boards for major journals and was the Chief Editor of the International Journal of Collaborative Engineering. He has also been a visiting professor at prestigious institutions, including MIT and RWTH Aachen University. His contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, including being elected as a senior Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the International Academy of Production Engineering.

Research Interests

Awards

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ASME Fellow

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Senior Advisor to the President

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1000 Talent Initiative

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Founding Dean

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University Distinguished Professor

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Advisory Professor

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Elected Full Fellow

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YangTze Distinguished Scholarship Award

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International Technology Contribution Award

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Technical Achievements Award

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Distinguished Civilian Service Award

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Humboldt Award

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Fulbright Scholarship

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Certificate of Appreciation

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Senior Xerox Award

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University Scholar Award

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Award for Appreciation

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Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award

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Presidential Young Investigator Award

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Young Engineering Educator Award

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.