Graduate/PhD Student Research in the Neuroengineering Initiative
How to Apply
The Rice Neuroengineering Initiative comprises multidisciplinary labs led by faculty with broad research interests, including non-invasive neuromodulation, deep brain stimulation, signal processing, brain-computer interfaces, and nanotechnology. This multi-faceted approach means that our faculty draws students from multiple areas within the George R. Brown School of Engineering to contribute to new and ongoing projects. Becoming familiar with specific researchers and their ongoing projects should be the first step in the application process.
Students interested in participating in Neuroengineering research at Rice should take the following steps:
Step 1: Review NEI labs and identify faculty investigators
A review of research areas at the NEI or the identification of research groups associated with the NEI can help students find both the right fit for their interests and the appropriate program for their graduate work. Students interested in the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative are always welcome to submit their CV and letter of interest to the department (neuro@rice.edu) or contact our P.I.s directly.
Step 2: Choose a graduate program
Rice NEI is not a department. Rather, we are a cross-disciplinary center comprising different university departments. Our faculty primarily recruit from their home department or from cross-departmental graduate programs (e.g., APP and SSPB). To identify which graduate program best fits your interests, we recommend using the matrix below as a starting point. Please contact the department or program graduate coordinator for questions regarding specific requirements or deadlines.
| Faculty | Department Programs |
Cross-Department Programs |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Click on the faculty member for lab website | MSNE | BIOE | ECE | MECH | APP | SSPB |
| Behnaam Aazhang | X | |||||
| Jessica Butts | X | X | ||||
| Valentin Dragoi** | X | |||||
| Benjamin Hayden** | X | |||||
| Sarah Heilbronner** | X | |||||
| Scott Keene | X | |||||
| Caleb Kemere | X | X | X | |||
| Lan Luan | X | X | X | |||
| Marcie O'Malley | X | |||||
| Jacob Robinson | X | X | X | X | ||
| Ankit Patel** | X | X | ||||
| Nicole Provenza** | X | |||||
| John Seymour** | X | X | ||||
| Nishal Shah | X | X | X | |||
| Jerzy Szablowski | X | X | X | |||
| Christina Tringides | X | |||||
| Chong Xie | X | X | X | |||
** denotes faculty who have joint Rice/TMC positions. Applicants should contact these researchers for specifics on lab rotations between their institutions.
Step 3: Apply
After determining the graduate program that best matches your interests, follow the links below to apply. In the application, please be sure to mention your desire to train in neuroengineering and the specific faculty/lab that aligns with your interests.
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Department of Bioengineering
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Material Science and Nanoengineering
- Applied Physics Graduate Program
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering
TMC Researchers
Some graduate-level courses are available through agreements with numerous TMC programs. Please review the policies available through the Rice University Office of the Registrar to determine whether your institution qualifies and which rules and guidelines must be observed. Direct research with NEI labs can be arranged by contacting each lab's principal investigator. Please be sure to include a letter of introduction from your faculty mentor or principal investigator, along with your CV, when contacting them.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Coursework
Undergraduate researchers are always welcome to contact our labs to inquire about rotations at the Rice NEI. We highly recommend that UG students take several courses in neuroengineering, neuroscience, or related fields before exploring roles within the NEI. Please see this list for a handful of current offerings at Rice that can help introduce you to our coursework and faculty.
Often project-based, NEI faculty need support with specific tasks or experiments. Students interested should review each P.I.'s research areas and research groups before emailing a cover letter and CV to ensure their goals and skills align with the lab's.