The 2026 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.
Alumni Engagement
At Rice Engineering and Computing, alumni don’t just stay connected — they show up, jump in and make things happen. Whether gathering over games in Dallas or pulling up a chair to mentor students in Houston, your fellow Owls are turning shared experiences into meaningful impact. These moments of connection bring the Rice community to life, creating opportunities for alumni to engage, give back and help shape the next generation of engineers.
Engaging with Rice Engineering and Computing today can be as simple as showing up and making your perspective count.
In Dallas, alumni, parents and friends gathered at Electric Shuffle for an evening that combined connection with camaraderie. Conversations unfolded easily over games and shared experiences, offering a natural way to reconnect with the Rice community and expand professional and personal networks beyond campus.
In Houston, that sense of connection took on added purpose at the OEDK’s Around the Kitchen Table event. Alumni joined student teams as they presented their design challenges and emerging solutions, first through lightning talks and then in small-group discussions. A dynamic, two-way exchange. Students gained a valuable perspective to refine their projects, while alumni reengaged with the creative energy and problem-solving spirit that define our school.
Together, these moments highlight the power of connection and how alumni participation not only strengthens community ties but also directly supports student learning and innovation.
AWARDS/TRAVEL GRANTS
At the annual Graduate Student and Alumni BBQ Cookout, the Rice Engineering and Computing community gathered to celebrate the people and projects driving innovation. Alongside the festivities, awards recognized individual graduate students and student teams whose work is advancing research, expanding opportunity and delivering real-world impact.
Student Teams
Team NeuroSpark is tackling one of the most complex challenges in pediatric care: improving recovery after stroke. The team is developing realistic brain models that allow researchers to study how gentle electrical stimulation affects both healthy and stroke-affected brains. By examining how factors such as electrode size and placement and lesion characteristics influence outcomes, the team’s work lays the groundwork for more effective therapies and improved quality of life for young patients.
Rice Eclipse, an award-winning aerospace design team, brings together students from across disciplines to design, build and test ambitious flight systems. This year, the team is advancing projects in aerodynamics, avionics and propulsion, including a dual-stage rocket designed with the long-term goal of reaching the Kármán line. Building on a track record of national success, the team continues to take on increasingly complex challenges with each launch cycle.
Graduate Student Travel Grants
Astrid Mata
Ph.D. candidate, materials science and nanoengineering
2025 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston, MA
Talk: Linking Composition to Performance in Entropy-Stabilized Catalysts
“My research uses entropy-stabilized materials as electrocatalysts to make hydrogen production easier, cheaper, and cleaner. By strategically tuning the composition of these multicomponent catalysts, I’ve shown they can outperform established benchmarks in key energy reactions. Presenting this work allowed me to share both practical results and the underlying science that can help move these technologies forward.”
Edgar Bello
Ph.D. candidate, chemical and biomolecular engineering
2025 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting
Talk: Native Single-Cell Western Blot: Measuring Heterogeneity of Multicomponent Protein Complexes in Cancer Cell Populations
“I presented our work on a new microfluidic technique that measures how proteins interact within individual cancer cells, called Native Single-Cell Western Blot. By looking at these interactions one cell at a time, we can better understand the differences that exist within a tumor and how those changes contribute to disease. That insight could help guide the development of more targeted and effective therapies.”