Rice University Computer Science

10/28/2026

Will AI destroy the world? It's a big question, and Rice Computer Science faculty are ready to take it on during Alumni Weekend.

Rice CS alums are invited to join us on Saturday, November 14, when our panel will discuss how these AI systems are kept within limits, the cases where they slipped past them and what that means for all of us.

Light Brunch at 10 a.m. in Martel Hall
Panel Discussion and Q&A at 11 a.m. in McMurtry Auditorium
Moderator: Chris Jermaine, department chair
Panelists: Vicente Ordóñez, Hanjie Chen, Tasos Kyrillidis and Alireza Fallah

Please RSVP to save your seat: https://ow.ly/NXJW50ZZxWr

10/27/2026

Rice Computer Science alum Vinay Pai ’88 ’91 just received the 2026 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, the highest recognition given by Rice Engineering and Computing.

The award honors a lifetime of professional accomplishments. For Vinay, that includes serving as CTO at BILL, where he helped guide the company through its 2019 IPO, and founding https://ow.ly/c5uN5101x0U, which builds AI-driven tools that make banking, credit and international money transfers easier to access for underserved communities.

He has also been a dedicated leader at Rice. He serves on the university’s Board of Trustees and has chaired both the Development, Alumni Relations and Public Affairs (DARPA) Committee and the Rice Engineering and Computing Advisory Board.

Congratulations, Vinay. We’re proud to call you one of ours.

Read about all five 2026 honorees: https://ow.ly/SHRC5101x0T


Congratulations, Vinay. We’re proud to call you one of ours.

Read about all five 2026 honorees: https://ow.ly/SHRC5101x0T

10/22/2026

The Rice Computer Science Department has a new master’s degree program, and applications are now open.

The Master of Artificial Intelligence (MAI) prepares technical graduates and working professionals to design, build and deploy modern AI systems. Our first classes begin in fall 2027.

Want to be part of it? Join our virtual information session.

Wednesday, November 11
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CST
Save your spot: https://ow.ly/G7qP50ZZyjf

10/21/2026

NASA asked the space community to rank the tech gaps between us and a sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars. It got 454 responses. Many of the problems at the top of that list are physical AI problems.

Rice, Purdue, Vanderbilt and NASA are hosting an In-Space Physical AI Workshop from Feb. 17-18, 2027, at The Ion in Houston.

Apply today for the ISPAI 2027 Innovation Challenges to turn six physical-AI challenges drawn from NASA's Moon-to-Mars tech shortfalls into a 16-week build.
01 Surface Mobility & Logistics
02 Space-Grade Edge Autonomy
03 ISRU & Construction Robotics
04 Inspection & In-Space Servicing
05 Human-AI Teaming
06 Navigation & Space Awareness

Bring a team of 3 to 6, or find one when you apply.
No finished idea is required. Leading teams get warm introductions to capital.

What will you build?
Apply now: https://ow.ly/3SkC50ZYb2N

10/15/2026

Join us for the In-Space Physical AI Workshop 2027, co-organized by Rice University, Purdue University, Vanderbilt University and NASA! This event is bringing together an exceptional community from industry, government, academia and the startup ecosystem.

The workshop will feature active participation from organizations across the space and technology ecosystem, including Blue Origin, Intuitive Machines, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft and many others. More exciting speakers, organizations, and program announcements are coming soon.

February 17–18, 2027
The Ion | Houston, Texas

Register and be part of the conversation:
https://luma.com/sedbx0uo

10/14/2026

Rice University plans to hire 75 AI-focused faculty, and Rice Computer Science is right in the middle of it.

Our chair, Chris Jermaine, leads the Rice AI Advisory Committee, and our new Master of Artificial Intelligence program launches in fall 2027. The Ken Kennedy Institute, led by computer scientist Lydia Kavraki, serves as a nexus for foundational and use-inspired research in AI and computing.

As Dean Luay Nakhleh put it, “The overarching theme of our approach to AI will be responsibility.”

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/T2iS50ZXKjs

Rice has launched a transformational universitywide AI initiative to recruit 75 faculty members working across disciplines, invest in a new, state-of-the-art facility that advances research and industry collaboration, and expand AI-related courses and degrees, accelerating the institution’s emerge...

10/13/2026

Want to build the software others rely on?
Join a virtual info session for Rice's on-campus Master of Computer Science program.

Using software is one skill. Building it and understanding how it works is another. Our MCS program is built for the second one, with five specializations, a required internship and a course in workplace communication so you can explain your work as clearly as you build it.

Hear a program overview, learn about the application process and bring your questions for the Q&A.

Upcoming sessions (all 5-6 p.m. CT):
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Thursday, November19, 2026
Thursday, January 21, 2027

Save your spot: https://ow.ly/Afy350ZVAIa

10/08/2026

Is a Master of Data Science your next move? Join a virtual info session for Rice's MDS program and get your questions answered.

Data science shapes the work happening in health care, energy, manufacturing and research. Doing it well takes more than one skill set. Our MDS program brings statistics, computer science and math together so you can use data to make informed decisions.

In each session, you'll learn about our on-campus options and how to apply.
Bring your questions.

Upcoming sessions (all noon-1 p.m. CT):
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Friday, January 22, 2027

Save your spot: https://ow.ly/gn4P50ZVzzW

09/25/2026

What can the brain teach us about building better neural networks?

Francesco Bullo, professor of mechanical engineering at UC Santa Barbara, is coming to Duncan Hall at Rice on Thursday, October 8, to deliver a Ken Kennedy Institute Distinguished Lecture: "Neural Circuits as Distributed Optimizers: From Probabilistic Models to Predictive Coding."

For anyone building neural networks, the big question is what the brain's approach can tell us about designing systems that learn well and stay stable. Bullo will tackle that with examples from sensory coding, decision-making and learning. If you work anywhere near machine learning or optimization, this is a good one to put on your calendar.

The lecture starts at 4 p.m. with a poster session to follow, so plan to stay for the conversation.

Please RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gHZ_mFYG

09/24/2026

Rice Computer Science is now accepting applications for our new Master of Artificial Intelligence (MAI). Join a limited inaugural class and learn from faculty doing cutting-edge AI research.

Not all AI programs are built the same. Our MAI is designed for recent computer science graduates and working professionals (engineers, scientists, and technologists) with technical backgrounds who want specialized depth in AI architectures, systems and deployment, rather than the breadth offered by our Master of Computer Science or analytics-focused Master of Data Science.

Instead, we focus exclusively on modern AI paradigms: retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic systems and distributed training. You'll build working AI applications through an internship and a capstone while embedding ethical, responsible AI practices into your work.

The result? Engineers fluent in the language of AI systems.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/3URk50ZQHsn