Research Excellence and Innovation

Pillar I: Research Excellence and Innovation

Goal: Accelerate responsible, impact-driven research by harnessing the synergy between engineering and computing—including advances in materials, synthetic biology, and AI—to achieve top-five national standing in research excellence, as measured by the scholarly impact, productivity, and achievements of our faculty and students, and to address humanity’s grand challenges.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is committed to advancing responsible research that transforms society and drives global impact, rooted in Rice’s strengths and Houston’s unique opportunities. By uniting engineering and computing, we will accelerate discovery through the responsible development and application of emerging technologies—including advanced materials, synthetic biology, and AI—across three interconnected research areas: sustainability and resilience, health and well-being, and computing and AI. Leveraging Houston’s role as the global energy capital, home to the world’s largest medical complex, and a rapidly expanding space industry —all strengthened by the city’s immense diversity and expansive infrastructure—our School will champion bold research challenges, strategic faculty growth, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Supported by strong partnerships with industry, government, and the regional innovation ecosystem, we will translate ideas into tangible solutions, prepare the next generation of leaders, and strengthen Rice’s position as a hub of excellence in engineering and computing.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Priority 1.1

Deepen Focus and Build Capacity in the School's Core Research Thrusts

We will deepen our research focus by leveraging the synergy between engineering and computing, expanding research infrastructure in partnership with the Rice University Office of Research, and advancing fundamental, curiosity-driven, and applied research that fuels discovery, innovation, and societal impact. Central to this effort is strengthening faculty excellence—supporting and retaining current faculty while recruiting outstanding scholars at all ranks to build a high-impact, collaborative academic community. By growing to at least 220 tenured or tenure-track faculty by July 2031, including targeted hires in aerospace engineering, AI, and cross-cutting interdisciplinary areas, we will expand capacity across all research thrusts and drive innovation that addresses both foundational questions and real-world challenges.

Sustainability & Resilience

From sustainable manufacturing to resilient cities and space systems, engineering and computing together can create a cleaner and safer world. By rethinking the materials we use, the environments we inhabit—from coastal infrastructure to orbital systems—and the energy that powers them, this research thrust addresses grand challenges in climate, energy, water, infrastructure, and environmental health. Through foundational research and strong partnerships across Houston’s energy, aerospace, and civic sectors, our work translates discovery into solutions that strengthen natural and built systems on Earth and beyond.

Themes:
  • Reinventing what we make – Designing sustainable energy, materials, manufacturing processes, and circular systems that minimize environmental impact
  • Transforming how and where we live – Creating healthy, adaptive, and data-driven environments that improve quality of life on Earth and beyond
  • Designing for resilience – Advancing technologies and infrastructure that anticipate and respond to environmental, societal, and space-related challenges

Health & Well-being

Engineering and computing are transforming medicine and human health—from innovative diagnostics to intelligent systems that enable personalized care. By integrating biotechnology, advanced materials, robotics, and computing, this research thrust accelerates biomedical engineering, imaging, bioinformatics, autonomous systems, and systems design to improve how diseases are detected, treated, and prevented. In partnership with Houston’s world-leading medical institutions, our researchers translate discovery into practice—restoring the human brain and body, promoting equitable and trustworthy healthcare, and engineering sustainable solutions that support public health and environmental sustainability

Themes:
  • Restoring and enhancing the human brain and body – Advancing technologies that repair, augment, and optimize human neurological and physical health and performance.
  • Making health innovation equitable and trustworthy – Ensuring that breakthroughs in healthcare, data, and biotechnology serve diverse populations ethically and inclusively.
  • Engineering biology and intelligence for public health and the environment – Integrating computing and AI, synthetic biology, and biomaterials to design sustainable solutions for health, energy, and the environment, including scalable biomanufacturing approaches.

Computing & AI

As the digital and operational backbone of the future, advances in computing, autonomy, and intelligent systems drive innovation—from health and energy to education and aerospace. Building on Rice’s historic strengths in computer systems, algorithms, and high-performance computing, our School shapes new frontiers in intelligent systems, robotics, and human-computer interaction, with a steadfast commitment to responsible technological innovation. Our research spans Earth and space—enabling autonomous discovery, secure data infrastructures, and computing architectures that support the next generation of scientific breakthroughs and transform how we learn, work, and explore in ways that prioritize human well-being.

Themes:
  • Reimagining computing and AI foundations – Designing next-generation computing systems that are efficient, secure, and adaptable.
  • Advancing autonomy and robotics – Developing collaborative, intelligent, and resilient systems that enhance human capability in complex environments.
  • Designing human-centered intelligent systems – Creating trustworthy and explainable technologies—including personalized learning systems—that enrich human life.
Priority 1.2

Strengthen and Expand Corporate Partnerships

Strategic collaboration with industry is vital to translating research into real-world impact and preparing students for the challenges of an evolving technological landscape. The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing will strengthen and expand partnerships with leading corporations to drive innovation, accelerate technology transfer, and align academic discovery with workforce and societal needs. Through structured engagement, supportive policies, and targeted training, we will enhance the School’s position as a trusted partner in shaping the future of technology and industry.

  • Deepen partnerships with Houston’s key industries—energy and sustainability, infrastructure and resilience, health, space, and AI/technology—and with leading partners beyond the region by establishing Corporate Affiliates Programs (CAPs) that span the School’s research thrusts
  • Create embedded industry liaison roles to support faculty engagement with corporate sponsors.
  • Grow corporate investment in the School’s research portfolio and strategic priorities.
  • Train faculty in multi-source funding strategy (e.g., federal, philanthropic, and industry).
Priority 1.3

Fuel Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential drivers of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing’s impact on society. By fostering a vibrant ecosystem that connects research, education, and commercialization, the School will empower faculty, students, research scientists, and postdoctoral scholars to translate discoveries into solutions that address global challenges. Through strategic partnerships, training, and targeted investments, we will cultivate an entrepreneurial culture that accelerates technology development and drives economic growth.

  • Launch the Entrepreneurship Strategic Advisors (ESA) program to connect faculty and students with experienced entrepreneurs and investors to accelerate the translation of research into impactful startups.
  • Strengthen collaboration with other university entrepreneurship programs.
  • Empower students, research scientists, and postdoctoral scholars with intellectual property training and small grant funding.
  • Provide annual funding to incentivize innovation through faculty grand challenges, enabling bold, high-risk research that pushes the boundaries of discovery and impact.
  • Establish programs to coordinate and accelerate the school’s research and workforce development in each of the three research thrusts.

Metrics of Success

  • Grow to at least 220 tenured or tenure-track faculty by 2031, with targeted hires in AI, aerospace engineering, and interdisciplinary fields.
  • Support at least two startup ventures launched or scaled annually, and aim to create a “unicorn” ($1B+) company spinout within the next five years.
  • Increase corporate funding for research and strategic initiatives by 50%.