Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Enzyme from fungi shows molecules which way to turn

A small fungal enzyme could play a significant role in simplifying the development and manufacture of drugs, according to Rice University scientists.

Quantum dots keep atoms spaced to boost catalysis

Rice engineers use graphene quantum dots to trap transition metals for high atom loading in single atom catalysis.

Solar energy collectors grown from seeds

Rice University engineers have created microscopic seeds for growing remarkably uniform 2D perovskite crystals that are both stable and highly efficient at harvesting electricity from sunlight.

Absorbent aerogels show some muscle

A simple chemical process developed at Rice University creates light and highly absorbent aerogels that can take a beating.

Molecular jiggling has implications for carbon nanotube fibers

New research suggests the jiggling motion of carbon nanotubes suspended in liquid solutions could have implications for the structure, processing and properties of nanotube fibers formed from those solutions.

Rice names architect for new engineering and science building

With the imminent demolition of Rice University’s Abercrombie Engineering Laboratory, the space will soon be cleared for a new engineering and science building, according to Rice administrators. International architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has been selected as lead architect for the new building. Houston’s Scientia Architects will consult on laboratory design.

Silver ions hurry up, then wait as they disperse

There’s gold in them thar nanoparticles, and there used to be a lot of silver, too. But much of the silver has leached away, and researchers want to know how.

Rice engineers WERC hard for the money

Students calling themselves “PFAS and PFurious” took four prizes, including first place, in this year’s 31st WERC Environmental Design Contest.

Bioengineer wins NIH grant to attack cystic fibrosis

Rice chemical and biomolecular engineer Xue Sherry Gao wins a National Institutes of Health grant to develop gene editing to treat cystic fibrosis.

Biochem lab partners win Goldwater Scholarships

Passionate pursuit of research opportunities pays off for Syed Shams and Jim Zhang

Cancer ‘guardian’ breaks bad with one switch

A mutation that replaces a single amino acid in a potent tumor-suppressing protein makes it prone to nucleating amyloid fibrils implicated in many cancers as well as neurological diseases.

DARPA backs Rice sensor to detect COVID-19 virus in air

Researchers receive funding for up to $1 million to develop a real-time electronic sensor able to detect minute amounts of the airborne virus that causes COVID-19 infection.

Laura Segatori named AIMBE fellow

Rice bioengineer Laura Segatori has been named a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Haotian Wang named Sloan Research Fellow

Rice University chemical and biomolecular engineer Haotian Wang has been selected as a 2021 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

Junghae Suh named AIMBE fellow

Rice bioengineer Junghae Suh has been named a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.