Premier Research

Rice faculty and Baker Institute leadership discuss Jimmy Carter’s life, legacy and connection to university

Rice faculty and Baker Institute leadership are remembering former President Jimmy Carter — his life, legacy and connection to the university.

Major breakthrough for ‘smart cell’ design

Rice bioengineers have developed a new construction kit for building custom sense-and-respond circuits in human cells. The research is a major breakthrough that could revolutionize therapies for complex conditions like autoimmune disease and cancer.

Chemists create eco-friendly method to make chlorine-based materials for drugs and chemicals

Rice chemists have developed a more environmentally friendly way to integrate chlorine into chemical building blocks.

Rice and Houston Methodist award seed grants for digital health research

The grants aim to accelerate the translation of technologies into clinical applications.

Rice researchers take ‘significant leap forward’ with quantum simulation of molecular electron transfer

Researchers at Rice University have made a meaningful advance in the simulation of molecular electron transfer — a fundamental process underpinning countless physical, chemical and biological processes.

2024 Rice wrap: A look back on a year of ‘transformative growth’

Rice concluded the year on a high note, celebrating a year of transformative growth, achievements and community spirit.

New molecule-creation method a ‘powerful tool’ to accelerate drug synthesis and discovery

A team of chemists from Scripps Research and Rice has unveiled a novel method to simplify the synthesis of piperidines, a key structural component in many pharmaceuticals.

New evidence exists for hidden water reservoirs and rare magmas on ancient Mars

A new study explores how variations in Mars’ crustal thickness during its ancient history may have influenced the planet’s magmatic evolution and hydrological systems.

Supportive marriages key to caregiver well-being: Rice study reveals vital link for dementia spousal caregivers

A new study sheds light on the critical role marital relationships play in the mental and physical health of caregivers for spouses living with dementia.

New Rice-TMC research projects drive advances in health and medicine

Seven research partnerships involving Rice, the Baker Institute for Public Policy and various institutions within the Texas Medical Center (TMC) received seed grants in 2024 through the Provost’s TMC Collaborator Fund. These grants were facilitated by Rice’s office for Educational and Research Initiatives for Collaborative Health (ENRICH).

Rice hosts assistant secretary of defense for science and technology

The United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology Honorable Aprille Ericsson visited Rice to explore areas of alignment between Rice’s research strengths and Department of Defense technological needs and priorities.

‘Never been stronger’: State of the University address showcases Rice’s success, growth

Rice President Reginald DesRoches delivered his State of the University address Dec. 11 at the Moody Center for the Arts, highlighting points of pride from the past year and providing a look to the future. 

Rice, Houston Methodist launch pathbreaking Digital Health Institute to transform the future of health care

Rice and Houston Methodist have joined forces to establish the Digital Health Institute aimed at transforming health care for millions through advanced technology and collaborative expertise.

Researchers uncover strong light-matter interactions in quantum spin liquids

In a paper recently published in Nature Physics , an international group of researchers have found evidence of a quantum spin liquid in a material known as pyrochlore cerium stannate.

The Welch Foundation honors Rice’s Wang for pioneering contributions to sustainable energy solutions

The Welch Foundation, one of the nation’s leading private funders of basic chemistry research, has awarded the 2025 Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research to Haotian Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University.