Rice University invests in 38 groundbreaking projects to integrate responsible AI across the humanities, engineering, and the sciences.
Aligned with the university’s strategic plan “Momentous", Rice Digital Learning and Strategy is excited to announce 38 projects selected to receive funding as part of the Accelerating Responsible AI for Education initiative.
"One of Rice's strategic goals is to be a leader in the development and implementation of the responsible use of artificial intelligence. These grants empower faculty to experiment with AI in the classroom, create or rebuild courses to seamlessly integrate AI and learn from one another by building community within schools. With this support, they are better equipped to transform AI-related teaching and learning, accelerating Rice's leadership in AI education" said Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
New Courses: Cross-Disciplinary AI Fluency
Rice Digital Learning & Strategy is providing support to enable faculty to develop or redesign 16 courses to bring AI fluency to students in every corner of the campus. These classes ensure that whether a student is studying archaeology or chemical engineering, they have the tools to succeed in an AI-driven world.
| Course | Learning Objective | Faculty Lead |
|---|---|---|
| AI Capstone | Building large-scale AI software projects for the senior capstone of Rice’s new Bachelor’s of AI | John Greiner |
| AI Tool Survey (DSCI 128) | A project-based intro to tools like NotebookLM and Midjourney. | Lorenzo Luzi |
| Algorithmic Ethics (DSCI 305) | "Red Teaming" models to find bias and ensure fairness. | Corey M. Abrarmson |
| Ancient Cities (ANTH 363) | Using AI to study history while critiquing AI-generated essays. | Molly Morgan |
| Deep Evolution | Using AI to reconstruct fossil anatomy and human origins. | Manuel Dominguez-Rodrigo |
| Design Build Ship (BUSI 365) | Rapidly prototyping startup ideas using AI "sprints." | Hesam Panahi |
| Generative AI for Finance (MGMT 675) | Using AI agents to execute Python code for data management, financial reporting, and analysis. | Kerry Back |
| Human/AI Teaming (ELEC 631) | Prototyping tools that augment human expertise in peer tutoring. | Richard G. Baraniuk |
| Industry 4.0 Lab | Using Generative AI to troubleshoot complex engineering systems. | Edgar Avalos Gauna |
| Math of GenAI (DSCI 330) | Demystifying the math behind transformer and diffusion models. | Xinjie Lan |
| Modern AI Models (DSCI 401) | Exploring Deep Learning with a focus on accountability. | Arko Barman |
| Public Health Media (HEAL 212) | Learning to identify and counter AI-driven misinformation. | Isabelle Kusters |
| Self-Driving Labs | Using robots and Python to automate chemical experiments. | Rafael Verduzco |
| Social Epidemiology (HEAL 498) | Using AI to humanize research through storytelling. | Amanda Onwuka |
| Socratic AI (COMP 282) | Using math to build connections between formulas and computational behavior. | Anastasios Kyrillidis |
| Vibe Coding (COMP 101) | Teaching non-CS majors to build programs via iterative prompting. | Joe Warren |
Exploration Grants: AI Experimentation
These 14 projects provide seed funding for faculty to conduct small-scale experiments with AI in their teaching.
| Area of Focus | Description | Faculty Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Performance | Integrating AI training assessments with immersive cycling to prescribe health plans. | Rod Azadan |
| Big Data Research | Redesigning independent study projects as AI-assisted experiences for graduate students. | Marmar Orooji |
| Biomaterials Synthesis | Using LLMs to provide immediate feedback on research proposals, helping students refine experimental logic. | Kevin McHugh |
| Business Oral Exams | Developing and fine-tuning an AI-based oral examiner for business course projects and presentations. | Kerry Back |
| Clinical Simulations | Using AI-driven patient avatars to help medical Spanish students practice realistic healthcare communication. | Marcus Guilherme P. Valadares |
| Custom AI Tutors | Developing specialized assistants for database courses that explain concepts without giving away answers. | John Greiner |
| Engineering Design | Using tools like Claude and Perplexity to identify risks in medical device designs. | Sabia Zehra Abidi |
| Engineering Leadership | Using Generative AI to accelerate data-driven decisions and build professional data science portfolios. | Edgar Avalos-Gauna |
| Human Anatomy | Integrating AI assessment tools and OpenStax Assignable to provide immediate feedback in high-enrollment anatomy courses | Laura S. Kabiri |
| Interdisciplinary Research | Exploring responsible AI for graduate-level writing while comparing AI-generated work to human-authored content. | Ashley Hudson |
| Language Learning (Spanish) | Using AI avatars for medical simulations and reflective writing practice. | Jessica Morones |
| Mental Skills Training | Using AI to produce initial mental health interventions for students to critically evaluate and revise. | Amanda M. Perkins-Ball |
| Physics Feedback | Returning to Socratic dialogic learning methods using AI tutors that guide students toward their own solutions. | Lam Yu |
| Professional Productivity | Helping Engineering Management students identify when AI helps—and when it hurts—work quality. | Claudia Zettner |
Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs)
To build long-term expertise, Rice Digital Learning & Strategy is empowering faculty to lead peer-based explorations of AI topics most relevant to their disciplines by funding seven learning communities where faculty collaborate on AI policy and teaching methods.
| Area of Focus | Description | Faculty Lead |
|---|---|---|
| Data & Physical Devices George R. Brown School of Engineering |
Statistics: Connecting data analysis with real-world engineering hardware. | Chad Shaw |
| Humanities & Arts School of Humanities |
Modern and Classical Languages: Curating a repository of AI-enhanced assignments that strengthen digital literacy. | Marcus P. Valadares |
| Humanities Benchmarking School of Humanities |
Multidisciplinary: Developing an archive of peer-reviewed use cases and benchmarks to test the capabilities and limits of AI in scholarly research. | Ian Schimmel |
| Language Proficiency School of Humanities |
Transnational Asian Studies: Evaluating how chatbots help or hinder oral communication in second languages. | Meng Yeh |
| Natural Sciences Assessment Wiess School of Natural Sciences |
BioSciences: Creating a toolkit for teaching "with, without, and against AI" through redesigned assignments and rubrics. | Ali Garib |
| Policy & Literacy George R. Brown School of Engineering |
Rice Center for Engineering Leadership: Creating a toolkit for faculty to design “AI-resistant” assessments and clear usage policies. | Marya Cokar |
| Social Sciences School of Social Sciences |
Sociology: Using spatial AI and LLMs to study complex issues like health inequality. | Corey M. Abramson |
Bringing AI to the Public
Rice’s commitment extends beyond the campus into the Houston community. The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies will offer a public course on Responsible Artificial Intelligence. Led by seven Rice experts, the course features various guest speakers and covers multiple industries. Scholarships will ensure community members and local educators can access this global-standard expertise. Faculty leaders for this public course are Rob Bruce and Korin Brody.
Accelerating the Future – Rice Aims to Lead Globally in Responsible AI
Rice is demystifying and democratizing AI across all disciplines. Through this diverse array of courses and learning communities, we examine AI’s technical foundations alongside its ethical implications and historical evolution. This comprehensive approach ensures our students understand not just how AI works, but how its applications shape society and the human experience.
The Accelerating Responsible AI and Education programs are partly funded from a generous philanthropic investment from Lori and Chuck Whitten to expand innovation and AI literacy to equip faculty with tools, knowledge, and support to harness AI in transformative and ethical ways.
Join the Movement: Applications Open
Are you a faculty member looking to innovate with AI? This is an initial list of awardees, and opportunities to participate are still available through the end of next month. We encourage you to join your colleagues in shaping the future of education at Rice.
- Apply Now: This is what it looks like when you add bold. Submit your application for an Responsible AI Grant by February 27, 2026.
- Stay Tuned: This blog will be updated in late February when the full list of final awardees is announced.