Yearly, the Innovation Fellows remind us what’s doable when daring concepts meet Rice grit. The 2025 cohort brings collectively scientists, engineers, and alter makers who aren’t afraid to ask massive questions and chase down even larger options. Working alongside them has been electrical, and we are able to’t watch for the Rice group to get to know these innovators who’re shaping what’s subsequent.
Meet the 2025 Innovation Fellows
Right here’s a snapshot of every Fellow and the massive questions they’re tackling. Get able to be impressed:
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Lucas Eddy (Ph.D. ’25, Utilized Physics & Chemistry)
Lucas pioneered speedy flash Joule heating to destroy PFAS and turning poisonous waste into a brand new frontier for remediation and nanomaterial upcycling. He’s now scaling the method to deal with PFAS throughout numerous soil sorts. -
Chen‑Yang Lin (Ph.D. ’25, Supplies Science & Nano‑Engineering)
Co-founder of HEXAspec, Chen‑Yang is constructing next-gen thermal options for AI chips, aiming to chill evolving semiconductor designs. HEXAspec’s work already earned main wins from Lilie’s annual NRLC Championships to CERAWeek’s pitch competitors. -
Sarah Jimenez (Ph.D. ’27, Bioengineering)
Sarah is engineering transplantable hearts utilizing decellularized animal scaffolds and automating the method with a customized cell-delivery system bringing us nearer to lab-grown, patient-specific coronary heart replacements. -
Alexander Lathem (Ph.D. ’26, Utilized Physics & Chemistry)
Alexander is remodeling laser-induced graphene (LIG) from lab curiosity to industrial powerhouse—scaling it to be used in electronics, sensors, and biotech functions en masse. -
Alvaro Moreno Lozano (Ph.D. ’27, Bioengineering)
Alvaro is making a bioartificial pancreas utilizing superior biomaterials and cell engineering poised to assist Sort 1 Diabetes sufferers preserve wholesome glucose ranges with out insulin injections. -
Dilrasbonu (“Bonu”) Vohidova (Ph.D. ’27, Bioengineering)
Bonu is engineering therapeutic cells that launch immunomodulators to forestall Sort 1 Diabetes, encapsulated in biocompatible supplies for long-term remedy that protects islets whereas preserving immune operate. -
Alexandria Carter (Ph.D. ’27, Bioengineering)
Alexandria is growing a superhydrophobic, high-throughput system for 3D culturing of organoids, tumor fashions powering a brand new period in personalised diagnostics and mobile biology. -
Mor Sela Golan (Commercialization Fellow, Bioengineering)
Mor is translating her experience in nanotechnology and biomaterial-based cell remedy into options for lymphedema bridging lab-based analysis with actual affected person impression. -
John Li (Commercialization Fellow, Chemistry & Supplies Science)
With expertise spanning Rice and Stanford labs, John is a Worth Entrepreneurship champion melding STEM innovation with enterprise mannequin creativity and commercialization insights.
