Scott E Fraser

Scott E. Fraser is a Provost Professor of Biological Sciences & Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California, holding joint appointments in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, and Viterbi School of Engineering. He is also Director of Science Initiatives for USC and leads multiple imaging centers, including the Translational Imaging Center and MRI Center. Fraser's research focuses on imaging technologies and quantitative biology, with emphasis on embryonic development, organogenesis, and medical diagnostics. He has pioneered advancements in light-sheet microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescent imaging techniques. His work integrates engineering, physics, and biology to address complex biological systems.

Fraser earned his BS in Physics from Harvey Mudd College (1976) and PhD in Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University (1979). Before USC, he served as Chair of Physiology and Biophysics at UC Irvine and Anna L. Rosen Professor at Caltech. He founded the Caltech Brain Imaging Center and contributed to the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience. His interdisciplinary approach has led to innovations in imaging tools and systems biology.

Research interests include imaging embryonic zebrafish, craniofacial development, and real-time metabolic tracking. Key projects involve developing hyperspectral imaging, label-free biomarkers, and multiplexed biosensors. Fraser has authored over 600 publications, including breakthrough studies on synapse dynamics, insulin secretion, and neural basis of quantity perception in zebrafish.

Awarded the Edwin G. Conklin Medal (2021) for developmental biology, Fraser has led initiatives such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s science grant programs. His labs and centers provide cutting-edge facilities for USC researchers, fostering collaborations across medicine, engineering, and basic sciences.