Nikias appoints distinguished faculty

President C. L. Max Nikias appointed three faculty members as distinguished professors this week in order to recognize their accomplishments and efforts that have benefited the university.

Jae Jung, M. Hashem Pesara and Tony Maxworthy will join the 25 other distinguished professors, who earned their titles by bringing special renown to USC, either through their research or other endeavors.

Jung was appointed to the Fletcher Jones Foundation Distinguished Chair in Molecular Biology and Immunology at the Keck School of Medicine, and is an expert in the field of the molecular biology of gamma-herpes viruses. Jung’s research concerning herpes viruses has led to discoveries about cancer in cells and their ability to multiply normally.

Maxworthy was appointed to the title of Distinguished Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the Viterbi School of Engineering and is known for his research in environmental and geophysical fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, turbulence, solidification, convection and biofluid mechanics.

Pesaran was appointed to the John E. Elliott Distinguished Chair in Economics and is also the director of the USC Center for Applied Financial Economics. Pesaran is considered an expert of applied econometrics, and his research has had had great impact in finance and the design of medical trials.