Engineering

Luay Nakhleh reappointed as dean of Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing

Luay Nakhleh was reappointed as dean of Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing.

Rice researchers harness gravity to create low-cost device for rapid cell analysis

A team of researchers at Rice has developed an innovative AI-enabled, low-cost device that will make flow cytometry ⎯ a technique used to analyze cells or particles in a fluid using a laser beam ⎯ affordable and accessible.

Rice supporting World Engineering Day as official partner

Rice is an official partner for UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development , which will be held at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters March 4.

New method developed to dramatically enhance bioelectronic sensors

In a breakthrough that could transform bioelectronic sensing, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Rice University has developed a new method to dramatically enhance the sensitivity of enzymatic and microbial fuel cells using organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs).

Shining light on brain function: New optogenetics protocol poised to advance neuroscience

Rice neuroscientist Valentin Dragoi and Ariana Andrei from the Houston Methodist Research Institute developed a detailed, step-by-step guide for deploying optogenetics in nonhuman primates, providing critical guidance for researchers working to advance understanding of the brain’s complex networks and their relationship with behavior.

Rethinking equity in electric vehicle infrastructure

Xinwu Qian, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, is spearheading research that reimagines how and where charging stations should be deployed.

Rice researchers team up with UT, A&M to help rural Texas communities overhaul flood management system

Avantika Gori, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, is leading an innovative project to address flooding in rural communities.

Rice-led study finds focused ultrasound therapy improves cancer treatment

Combining an existing small-molecule protein therapy called tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand with focused ultrasound can significantly reduce tumor size and burden in prostate cancer models, according to a new study published in Advanced Science by researchers at Rice and Vanderbilt.

Rice senior Cat Tran to intern at SpaceX through Brooke Owens Fellowship

Rice senior Cat-Linh Tran has been selected as a 2025 Brooke Owens Fellow, a prestigious honor recognizing exceptional undergraduates pursuing careers in aerospace.

Harnessing failure as an asset: How Rice researchers are innovating smarter wearable tech

A new study by mechanical engineers at Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing explores how programmed failure in heat-sealable, sheet-based systems can be used to protect devices, enable complex sequencing of actions and even streamline control mechanisms.

Rice computer science department invites Houston industry, community partners for discussion on generative AI and DeepSeek

The Rice Department of Computer Science and Ken Kennedy Institute invite Houston industry and community partners to an evening discussion on LLMs, DeepSeek and the future of generative AI.

Rice-led study finds 2D carbon material is 8 times tougher than graphene, resists cracking

Rice researchers found that a carbon material known as monolayer amorphous carbon is eight times tougher than graphene.

Rice Wind Energy advances to final phase of Collegiate Wind Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Rice Wind Energy as one of 12 teams advancing to the final phase of the 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition.

Rice-BCM research achieves gene-editing breakthrough that could improve treatment for liver disease, other disorders

The Rice lab of bioengineer Gang Bao and collaborators at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new gene-editing strategy that dramatically boosts the effectiveness of gene therapies in the liver, a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for about 700 genetic disorders in this vital organ as well as in other organs and tissues.

Rice’s Lydia Kavraki elected to National Academy of Engineering

Rice computer scientist Lydia Kavraki has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional honors accorded to an engineer, for her work on “developing randomized motion-planning algorithms for robotics and robotics-inspired methods in biomedicine.”