Eleven faculty members from the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice University were recently promoted to higher positions as full or associate professors.
"These promotions reflect the extraordinary talent and dedication of our faculty,” said Amy K. Dittmar, Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their scholarship is not only advancing knowledge but also shaping the future of their fields and making a profound impact on society.
"We are proud to recognize these faculty members for their unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions to our academic community," said Luay Nakhleh, William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering and Computing. "Their work exemplifies the spirit of innovation and excellence that defines our school, and we look forward to all they will accomplish at Rice.”
The appointments were effective July 1, 2025, unless noted otherwise.
Promoted to full professor:
Xia (Ben) Hu in the Department of Computer Science focuses on building machine learning algorithms that uncover meaningful patterns from large-scale complex datasets. His research has resulted in solutions for several real-world challenges in social informatics, healthcare, and cybersecurity. He led the development of AutoKeras, an open-source deep learning tool that has become the most widely used system of its kind on GitHub. His work has been integrated into production systems at Apple and Bing and in major machine learning platforms like TensorFlow. He joined Rice in 2021.
Anshumali Shrivastava in the Departments of Computer Science focuses on developing large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) and large language (LLMs) models to efficiently mine information from big data, graphs, and social networks for various purposes. He founded ThirdAI, a company that develops software to make deep learning models run more efficiently on standard hardware, rather than relying on expensive, power-hungry machines. He also co-founded xMAD.ai, which uses his research advancements to speed up AI Agentic processes in industries that require high-performance computing while reducing energy consumption. He joined Rice in 2011.
Chong Xie in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering designs and develops nanomaterials and nanoelectronics that can seamlessly integrate with the brain and other living tissues to solve key biomedical challenges. He has led the development of several electrical and optical nanoprobes as well as an electrical mesh-like interface composed of nanoelectronic threads (NETs), which integrate into the brain without any scars and produce reliable long-term recordings of brain function. He joined Rice in 2019.
Promoted to Associate Professor with tenure:
Taiyun Chi in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering focuses on developing AI-assisted integrated circuits, sensors, and systems for high-speed wireless communications and biomedical applications. He joined Rice University in 2019.
Kevin McHugh in the Department of Bioengineering focuses on developing biomaterial microdevices for drug delivery, cancer immunotherapy, and tissue engineering. He joined Rice University in 2019.
Hanyu Zhu in the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering applies state-of-the-art optical technologies to engineer novel quantum materials for use in quantum computing. He joined Rice in 2018.
Promoted to Full Teaching Professor:
Matthew Wettergreen in the Department of Bioengineering and Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) is also the director of the Global Medical Innovation Masters program. He co-developed six of the seven courses in OEDK’s curriculum and has mentored faculty in Brazil, Malawi, and Tanzania to launch similar makerspaces. He joined Rice in 2013 and was promoted to this role on July 1, 2024.
Promoted to Associate Teaching Professor:
Arko Barman is the director for the Data Science Minor program and has mentored over 60 sponsored data science capstone projects. He teaches lecture style and experiential learning courses on artificial intelligence and data science. He joined Rice in 2020.
Mack Joyner is the director of the Professional Master of Computer Science program. He teaches courses in web development, object-oriented programming and design, and fundamentals of parallel programming. He joined Rice in 2016.
Rebecca Schreib is the director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Computer Science. She teaches courses in computational thinking, design, and programming as well as courses in pedagogy and a practicum in college teaching. She joined Rice in 2020.
Promoted to Associate Research Professor:
Julie Park is the director of the Genome Editing Core lab in the Department of Bioengineering. She leads grant-funded research programs and robust training programs for graduate students and lab technicians. She joined Rice as faculty in 2021.