Ken Kennedy Institute

Rice launches AI venture accelerator to fuel industry innovation in collaboration with Google Public Sector

Rice has announced the launch of the Rice AI Venture Accelerator, designed to drive early stage artificial intelligence innovation and commercialization.

Pursuit of energy solutions, need for cultivating talent in HPC and AI emerge as themes at Ken Kennedy Institute conference

High-performance computing and artificial intelligence are increasingly transforming the energy sector, providing opportunities to optimize efficiency, scalability and sustainability. The 2025 Energy HPC Conference, hosted by Rice's Ken Kennedy Institute, took stock of the current state of science and technology to explore the implications of emerging research and innovation across the industry.

Rice’s Killian calls for sustained research funding: ‘A strong nation must be a leader in science’

Rice’s Thomas Killian, dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, calls for sustained research funding.

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.

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.

Baker Institute symposium explores AI and future of work in context of U.S.-Mexico relations

The Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice's Baker Institute hosted an inaugural event for its new line of research on AI policy and governance.

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 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.

Annual event showcases AI and high-performance computing advances in energy

Rice’s Ken Kennedy Institute will host its annual Energy HPC Conference Feb. 25-27.

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.”

Halas awarded Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry

Rice’s Naomi Halas is the recipient of the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Medal in chemistry, awarded “for the creation and development of nanoshells — metal-coated nanoscale particles that can capture light energy — for use in many biomedical and chemical applications.”

Rice computer science professor receives Secretary of Energy Achievement Award

Rice’s John Mellor-Crummey was honored in January with a Secretary of Energy Achievement Award as a member of the leadership team of the Department of Energy’s seven-year, $1.8 billion Exascale Computing Project.

Rice computer scientists develop solutions for making AI models more efficient and customizable

A team of researchers at Rice is working on solutions to make AI models less expensive and more accessible, customizable and environmentally friendly.