Rice University Electrical & Computer Engineering

A Rice-led university consortium will tackle the future of wireless with a $4.5M NSF award.

Rice Engineering's Ashutosh Sabharwal will spearhead the design and development of a new open-access software-defined radio system that will catalyze 6G wireless innovation.

‘Legos for wireless research’: Rice-led university consortium tackles the future of wireless with $4.5M NSF award Rice’s Ashutosh Sabharwal will lead a research project dedicated to the design and development of a modular platform for wireless networking, imaging and sensing that will significantly expand research capabilities and catalyze innovation in support of 6G wireless.

Congratulations to associate professor Kaiyuan Yang, Yonghee Chang and Naveed Ahmed for winning second prize in IEEE EMBC Young Professional Best Paper Competition.

Their novel human phantom design framework proposed in this paper could lead to safer, more reliable wearable and implantable bioelectronics.

Rice engineers win second prize in IEEE EMBC Young Professional Best Paper Competition | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University Researchers at Rice recently received the Young Professional Best Paper Award (2nd place) at the 46th Annual International Conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC2024).

Rice engineers are part of a collaborative team led by The University of Texas at Austin that was just awarded $840 million to develop the next generation of high-performing semiconductor microsystems for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Rice researchers led by Ramamoorthy Ramesh will focus on technologies for improving computing efficiency. Congratulations to Ramesh and the other Rice engineers working on this important initiative: Lane Martin, Ashok Veeraraghavan, Pulickel Ajayan, Kaiyuan Yang, and Guha Balakrishnan.

Rice researchers advancing microelectronics manufacturing on DARPA-funded team Rice is a key partner on an $840 million project to develop the next generation of high-performing semiconductor microsystems for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Congratulations to Chong Xie, associate professor and member of the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative, for receiving a $2.9M grant from National Institutes of Health (NIH) to build a state-of-the-art implantable neural electrode system.

The great work his team is doing has potential utility in a wide range of projects, including stroke recovery, aging, regenerative medicine, vision, memory and learning as well as spinal cord research.

Rice neuroscientists to build state-of-the-art neural recording system Rice neural engineer Chong Xie and his team have won a $2.9 million R01 grant from the NIH to develop a state-of-the-art implantable neural electrode system that is highly biocompatible, untethered and capable of stable, long-term and large-scale neural recording and stimulation.

A team of Rice neuroengineers created a nanosized sensor that can record the activity of spinal cord neurons, potentially leading to better treatments for spinal cord disease and injury.

Rice research scientist Yu Wu and associate professors Lan Luan and Chong Xie developed this technology and published the study in Cell Reports.

Rice engineers’ probe could help advance treatment for spinal cord disease, injury Rice neuroscientists have used a nanosized sensor to record spinal cord neurons in free-moving mice, a feat that could lead to the development of better treatments for spinal cord disease and injury.

A research team led by Rice Engineering's Edward Knightly has discovered that high-frequency and high-speed wireless backhaul links are not as secure as previously thought.

The team has uncovered an eavesdropping security vulnerability using MetaFly, a metasurface-equipped drone. Their findings were published by the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy last month.

Discovery highlights ‘critical oversight’ in perceived security of wireless networks A research team led by Edward Knightly has uncovered an eavesdropping security vulnerability in high-frequency and high-speed wireless backhaul links.

Congratulations to University Professor Naomi Halas on being elected a fellow of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Naomi Halas elected to Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University Naomi Halas, University Professor at Rice and a pioneering researcher in the fields of nanophotonics and plasmonics, has been elected a fellow of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Thank you to Ashok Veeraraghavan, professor of electrical and computer engineering who will lead the ECE department as chair beginning July 1!

We also thank outgoing chair Ashutosh Sabharwal, who has served as the ECE chair since 2019. https://bit.ly/3Xerne9 https://bit.ly/3Xerne9

Rice Engineering announces three new department chairs | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University Three departments in the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice will have new departmental chairs, two of them to become effective July 1 and another on Jan. 1, 2025.

Sleep is critical for memory and learning, and now we know more about what neurons are doing when the brain is at rest.

New research from Rice Engineering's Caleb Kemere, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering, and collaborators from the University of Michigan provides direct, real-time observation of neuroplasticity during sleep. https://bit.ly/3yI1ZmJ

In the brain at rest, neurons rehearse future experience New research from Rice and the University of Michigan sheds light on how individual neurons in the hippocampus of rats stabilize and tune spatial representations during periods of rest following the animals’ first time running a maze, offering first proof of neuroplasticity during sleep.

Interdisciplinary research is a hallmark of an education at Rice Engineering. A great example is the Metric-Bionets group: a unique collaboration between Rice's Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biosciences, which develops geometry-based analytical tools to analyze food webs in Africa.

The interdisciplinary nature of this group drives research on human- and climate-driven changes in the biosphere while accelerating student success beyond this research group.

Metric-Bionets group finds common language between engineering and biosciences | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University Interdisciplinary research is a hallmark of an education at Rice Engineering. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is known for interdisciplinary work, but collaborations between ECE and Biosciences such as the Metric-Bionets group are not very common.

The Ken Kennedy Institute — supported by contributions from the Rice Synthetic Biology Institute, Smalley-Curl Institute, and Rice Advanced Materials Institute — awarded $175,000 across seven projects through the 2024 AI, Data, and Computing Seed Funding Initiative. Congratulations to ECE researchers Shengxi Huang and Ankit Patel for receiving funding for their innovative projects.

Ken Kennedy Institute awards $175K in seed funding | Ken Kennedy Institute | Rice University The Ken Kennedy Institute awarded $175,000 across seven projects through the 2024 AI, Data, and Computing Seed Funding Initiative. This initiative aims to bridge interdisciplinary gaps, foster collaborations, and set forth new paradigms in AI, Data, and Computing by supporting innovative research gr...

Rice ECE graduate research assistant Kshipra Kapoor has identified a solution for improved exosome imaging. Her research was recently published in ACS Nano, a journal of the American Chemical Society.

Kshipra Kapoor identifies solution for improved exosome imaging | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University Exosomes are a sort of cellular transport system in the human body, generated by all cells and carrying essential substances such as nucleic acids, proteins and lipids.

Congratulations to César A. Uribe, Louis Owen Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, on two recent significant honors for his achievements in machine learning technology.

Uribe has received a Google Scholar Award and been named a 2024 Digital Futures Fellow by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.

César Uribe honored by Google and KTH Royal Institute of Technology | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University César A. Uribe, the Louis Owen Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Rice, has received a Google Scholar Award and been named a 2024 Digital Futures Fellow by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden.

Congratulations to Rice University Electrical & Computer Engineering Ph.D. candidate Yingying Fan for receiving the Nettie S. Autrey Fellowship! This award will support her continued research in biology-electronics hybrid systems in the Rice Integrated Systems and Electromagnetics (RISE) Lab.

Yingying Fan awarded Nettie S. Autrey Fellowship | George R. Brown School of Engineering | Rice University Yingying Fan, a fifth year Ph.D. candidate in electrical and computer engineering (ECE), has received the Nettie S. Autrey Fellowship.

Rice Engineering alumna Sarah Rajala ’77 ’79 has dedicated her career to fostering inclusive environments in engineering. ABET recently featured her story, highlighting how she has broken barriers in electrical engineering for herself—and for the following generations of women engineers.

Advancing Inclusivity in Engineering: Dr. Sarah Rajala's Journey and Vision - ABET Dr. Sarah Rajala has dedicated her career to fostering inclusive environments where all voices are not only heard but valued at every level. Through her ascent to leadership roles in both professional and volunteer capacities, Rajala has been steadfast in her commitment to breaking down barriers and...

The Health Equity Workshop is coming up next Tuesday, April 23. Hosted by the Digital Health Initiative, this workshop features sessions on machine learning explainability, accessible healthcare technologies, racial and social determinants of health, and machine learning fairness in healthcare.

Hear insights about health equity from experts from Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson, Houston Methodist, University of Houston, and Rice University. https://bit.ly/3SQnQ1s

On April 22, the Center for Computational Finance and Economic Systems (CoFES) will host the 11th Eubank Conference on Real World Markets. Join us for a panel discussion on the dynamic insurance climate with thought leaders Paolo Bocchini, professor civil and environmental engineering, Lehigh University; Stephanie Johnson, assistant professor of finance, Rice University; Stephan Sain, senior director, Geospatial and Data Sciences, Jupiter Intelligence; and Frederi Viens, professor of statistics, Rice University. https://bit.ly/4a0gYpc

There's still time to make your gift to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Excellence Fund and be counted in the 24-Hour Challenge! Donate by midnight to support future engineering innovations. https://bit.ly/3J1nb9e

The 24-Hour Challenge is TODAY! Now is the time to rally in support for Rice electrical and computer engineers. Help Rice Engineering reach 250 donors to unlock a $100K gift from the Engineering Advisory Board for the Dean's Fund for Engineering Excellence!

Make your gift by midnight to join the challenge. https://bit.ly/3J1nb9e

Tomorrow is the day of the 24-Hour Challenge! Join the Rice Engineering community in supporting our outstanding electrical and computer engineering faculty and students as we are solving for innovative hardware, software and systems. https://bit.ly/3J1nb9e

Applications now open for the Future Faculty Fellows 2024-25 cohort!

Rice Engineering Ph.D. Students and postdocs, if you are planning to apply to faculty positions next fall, the Future Faculty Fellows program is designed for you.

Fellows participate in tailored events, mentoring opportunities, and receive a travel stipend to support their faculty position application process. https://bit.ly/3PTyGmU

Exciting things are happening in quantum research at Rice Engineering!

Rice engineers in the lab of Songtao Chen have demonstrated a way to control the optical properties of atomic imperfections in silicon material known as T centers. Their finding is a significant step toward advancing quantum networks.

Rice research shows promise for advancing quantum networks Rice engineers have demonstrated a way to control the optical properties of an atomic imperfection in silicon material known as a T center by embedding it in a photonic integrated circuit and exploiting the Purcell effect to strengthen light-matter interaction and increase the rate of spontaneous em...

Early giving starts today for the 24-Hour Challenge! Your gift to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Excellence Fund supports student awards, academics, research and programs so we can educate leaders and tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. https://bit.ly/3J1nb9e

Mark your calendars for April 11 to make a positive impact through Rice University’s 24-Hour Challenge! When the university reaches 4,000 donations, Walt Greenberg ’78 will donate $300,000 to the university.

And this year, when 250 donors give to ANY engineering fund, it will unlock an additional $100,000 gift from the Engineering Advisory Board for the Dean’s Fund for Engineering Excellence. Stay tuned for 24-Hour Challenge giving opportunities!

There's still time to RSVP for the ECE Gene Brice Colloquium Series, featuring Dr. Richard Andersen, James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience and the T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center Leadership Chair at Caltech.

On March 28, Dr. Andersen will share insights to a novel approach to brain-machine interfaces that can help people with paralysis restore movement and speech. https://bit.ly/3wS4GkH

School of Engineering PhD students and Postdocs, don't forget to RSVP for the Future Faculty Fellows virtual application Q&A!

This program offers tailored events and mentoring opportunities to support you in your faculty position career search, so if you are preparing for a career in academia, you won't want want to miss this Q&A to learn more about the application for this program. RSVP by March 18 for the March 20 event. https://bit.ly/3wyXkCn

Congratulations to Naomi Halas, who has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the C.E.K. Mees Medal by Optica. She is recognized for her original use of optics across multiple fields, advancing cancer therapy, water security, and light-driven chemistry.

Rice’s Naomi Halas awarded Optica’s C.E.K. Mees Medal Rice University’s Naomi Halas has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the C.E.K. Mees Medal by Optica for her “original use of optics across multiple fields.”

Join us March 28 for the ECE Gene Brice Colloquium Series, featuring Dr. Richard Andersen, James G. Boswell Professor of Neuroscience and the T&C Chen Brain-Machine Interface Center Leadership Chair at Caltech.

Dr. Andersen will share insights to a novel approach to brain-machine interfaces that can help people with paralysis restore movement and speech. https://bit.ly/3wS4GkH

Congratulations to the interdisciplinary Rice Wind Energy team, led by junior Raj Anthony from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, for advancing to the final round of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s 2024 Collegiate Wind Competition. This year marks Rice’s inaugural trip to compete in the finals of the prominent undergraduate wind energy contest. https://bit.ly/3TpTRPv

Rice students advance to finals of DOE’s Collegiate Wind Competition An interdisciplinary group of Rice University students has been selected to compete in the Phase 3 final round of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2024 Collegiate Wind Competition.

On April 23, The Digital Health Initiative will welcome Christina Harrington, Ph.D. as the Keynote Speaker for the Health Equity Workshop. Scientists and clinicians working on health equity research will not want to miss this workshop that addresses health equity issues among historically marginalized communities.

Register now to be part of the conversation on a broad range of topics in health equity, including accessible healthcare technologies, racial/ethnic/social determinants of health, and machine learning.