The 2025 issue of Rice Engineering and Computing Magazine is here!
In our 50th anniversary issue, we celebrate the deep and growing connection between engineering and computing. From our early breakthroughs in high-performance computing to today’s advances in AI and data science, Rice has long been at the forefront of computing innovation. This edition highlights some of the people, ideas, and investments shaping what’s next.
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Rice Eclipse Takes Home Top Prize at 2024 Spaceport America CupRice Eclipse, the student rocketry team at Rice University, won first place in the 30K Student-Researched and Developed (SRAD) Hybrid Category at the 2024 Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico. More than 150 schools representing six continents participated in the rocketry challenge. The SRAD Hybrid category required an entirely student-designed hybrid rocket engine to achieve an altitude of 30,000 feet. |
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Rice-Led Research Leverages AI to Boost Coastal Storm ResponseCoastal communities face compounded risk from tropical cyclones and coastal storm events. A Rice Engineering and Computing-led team has secured $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve the safety and resilience of coastal communities by providing timely and reliable insights to emergency response organizations and local communities before, during and after severe storms. |
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Rice and MD Anderson Launch Initiative to Advance Cancer-focused Operations ResearchRice University and MD Anderson have launched the Center for Operations Research in Cancer to improve cancer care through data science and mathematical modeling. By combining Rice’s strengths in operations research with MD Anderson’s oncology expertise, the center aims to optimize treatment, improve outcomes, and streamline operations across cancer care systems. |
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Center for Membrane Excellence Advances Separation Technologies for Energy and SustainabilityRice University has launched the Rice Center for Membrane Excellence (RiCeME) to develop advanced membrane technologies for energy, sustainability, and chemical processing. Based in Houston, the center will drive innovations in fuel cells, carbon capture, and water purification. |
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Bioengineers Awarded $3.4M for Project to End PolioRice bioengineer Kevin McHugh has received $3.4 million from the Gates Foundation to develop a combined vaccine that includes protection against polio alongside five other childhood diseases. The project aims to support global polio eradication and expand vaccine access in low-resource settings by simplifying immunization logistics. |
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Researchers Innovate Smarter Wearable TechRice mechanical engineers have developed a method to make soft, sheet-based fluidic devices smarter by programming controlled failure points. This approach allows wearable and robotic systems to recover from pressure surges and perform complex tasks with simple controls. The study reveals how design choices like material and bond geometry affect performance and durability. |
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Engineering Senior to Intern at SpaceX through Brooke Owens FellowshipRice senior Cat-Linh Tran, a mechanical engineering major, has been named a 2025 Brooke Owens Fellow and will intern at SpaceX this summer. Chosen from over 400 applicants, Tran joins a prestigious program recognizing top undergraduates in aerospace for their technical skill, leadership, and community engagement. |
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Gravity Used to Create Low-cost Device for Rapid Cell AnalysisRice professors Peter Lillehoj and Kevin McHugh received $3.4 million from the Gates Foundation to develop a combined vaccine that includes protection against polio alongside five other childhood diseases. The project aims to support global polio eradication and expand vaccine access in low-resource settings by simplifying immunization logistics. |