The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing’s Future Faculty Fellows program empowers Rice scholars to explore the tenure-track faculty career path and successfully compete in the academic job market.
Applications for the Level 3 Future Faculty Fellowship are now open for doctoral students and postdocs who plan to apply for faculty positions in the 2026-27 academic year.
While a year-round lineup of Future Faculty Fellows seminars helps all Rice Engineering and Computing doctoral students and postdocs explore academic careers, it is the Level 3 Future Faculty Fellows program that offers the most in-depth experience. The selected cohort participates in tailored events—from mock interviews and job talks to one-on-one consulting—while they prepare competitive tenure-track faculty application packages. Fellows also receive a stipend to use for conference travel and networking while on the job market.
This year was the sixth year of operations for the Future Faculty Fellows program. Eleven outstanding doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers participated in the 2025-26 cohort.
“In an unpredictable job market, the Future Faculty Fellows program provided a structured framework for fellows to amplify and communicate their technical excellence,” said Renata Ramos, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. “Faculty, program alumni, and their peers surrounded fellows with a reliable professional network that has proven indispensable as they navigate the interview process. It has been a privilege to see the fellows transform from individual researchers into exceptionally strong candidates for faculty roles.”
Throughout the year, specialized one-on-one consultation with Activate Engineering Communication Program faculty helped fellows sharpen their research statements and other application materials within a supportive mentoring environment.
“The mentoring sessions have been the most valuable part of the program for me,” said Yao Rong, current Future Faculty Fellow and Rice Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Computer Science. “In today's world, we can find an abundance of career advice online, but the opportunity to receive personalized, expert feedback on our own materials is rare and invaluable.”
Program elements are optimally timed to align with the needs of fellows throughout the application process, from writing a cover letter through the final job interview.
“The support of the Future Faculty Fellows program has been so valuable during this pivotal time in my academic career,” said Katie Young, current Future Faculty Fellow and a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Bioengineering. “The timing of the programming helped me stay on top of the busy application season by providing a good sense of accountability to prepare my job application materials for feedback well before application deadlines arrived.”
The Future Faculty Fellows programming builds community by design, with networking and social events that foster camaraderie as fellows navigate their academic careers.
“It was so encouraging to compare experiences with a community of other fellows throughout the application process, and I’m sure these colleagues will continue to serve as great resources into the future of our early careers,” said Young.
Rice Engineering and Computing is dedicated to providing personalized, purpose-driven education, and preparing scholars for the workforce—including academia—is a central part of the school’s new strategic plan, Vision 2030. The long-term impacts of this program are evident as its alumni secure tenure-track faculty positions at institutions across the United States and abroad.
“The Future Faculty Fellows program serves as a cornerstone for developing the next generation of academic scholars and innovators,” said Ramos. “The program's success is rooted in its ability to create a strong mentorship environment that bridges the gap between research and professional impact, supporting the long-term career trajectory for our outstanding scholars.”
Rice Engineering and Computing doctoral students and postdocs who are planning to apply for faculty positions in the 2026-27 academic year may apply for the Future Faculty Fellows program by June 1, 2026.