USC researchers have found a way to transform discarded plastics into chemicals that help produce medicine.

How they did it: Travis Williams, professor of chemistry, and Clay C.C. Wang, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, broke down plastic trash into chemical groups. They then fed these chemicals to a lab-raised fungus, which produced several drugs, including antibiotics.

Why it matters:  The world is grappling with a massive overload of plastic waste.

“If you look at the biological cycle, that efficiency is very exciting because the process will be cost-sensitive. We’re going to make the products in bulk quantities,” says Wang.

What’s next: The team is working with researchers at the University of Kansas to find out if the method can work on a mixture of different plastics.

The Bridge Undergraduate Science (BUGS) Summer Research Program pairs students with research mentors to give the students hands-on laboratory experience.

Why It Matters: BUGS gives undergrads deep, practical experience in lab research and rare insight into what a successful career in a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field requires.

Bonus: STEM education prepares students to be curious, critical thinkers and problem-solvers.

Testimonial: “The BUGS experience not only deepened my research and critical thinking skills, it allowed me to contribute to the scientific world.”— Catie He, chemistry major

USC alumni Neeti Dang ’00 and her husband, Sandeep (BS ’97; MD ’01), were so inspired by BUGS that they made a generous gift to support it.

In Their Words: “Society constantly needs new scientists who do innovative research to help propel forward health care and other fields,” Neeti Dang said. “BUGS shows students how to get there.”

Former South Bay Lakers point guard Marcus Allen looked to a USC Dornsife pre-med program to further his dream of becoming a physician.

Opportunity: USC Dornsife’s postbaccalaureate premedical program is designed for students with little to no science background.

Why It Matters: According to its director, Chiho Mak, the program helps ‘career changers,’ working adults who realize later that medicine is their calling.

Allen aims to be a team doctor but also hopes to address health care disparities in underserved communities.

A group of USC Dornsife undergraduates created “Toxi-Gone,” a sustainable method to remove medicinal drugs from the water supply.

Why It Matters: In developing countries with contaminated water systems or minimal wastewater treatment infrastructure, Toxi-Gone could clean water for agricultural use or human consumption.

The students presented their water-cleaning method at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Grand Jamboree, a global synthetic biology competition.

In Their Words: “Being a part of this iGEM team gave me more confidence as a young scientist,” says project participant Nicolette Romo-Zelada, a sophomore majoring in biological sciences.