About USC - Administration - Senior Administration

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Senior Administration

Nelson Eugene Bickers
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Programs

As vice provost for undergraduate programs, Gene Bickers is responsible for oversight of the university’s Renaissance Scholars, Discovery Scholars, McNair Scholars and Undergraduate Research programs. He also works with the vice president for academic planning and budget to develop new curricular strategies that address USC’s commitment to education centered on the needs of undergraduate learners.

Since joining USC in 1988, Bickers has taught at all levels at the university. He chaired the Department of Physics and Astronomy from 2003 to 2005 and has been honored with many of the university’s most prestigious teaching awards, including USC College’s Raubenheimer Junior and Senior Faculty Awards (1992 and 2002), a Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award (1994), the USC Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999) and the university’s Teaching Has No Boundaries Award (2003). Additionally, from 1997 to 2000, he was a Faculty Fellow of the USC Center for Excellence in Teaching.

Bickers’ research focuses on the physics of strongly correlated electrons in solids. He was an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow from 1991 to 1993, and his investigations have been supported by the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.

Outside the university, Bickers has been a member of the National Committee of Examiners for the Graduate Record Examination in physics since 2001, serving as committee chair beginning in 2004.

Bickers earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics (with highest distinction) at the University of Virginia. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees in theoretical physics from Cornell University.