Our PhD students are passionate about research. They use intellect, creativity, and boldness to explore and discover. They believe in turning inquiry and investigation into understanding, and understanding into applications and novel solutions to real-world problems.

Our PhD program has two sub-tracks: Civil Engineering (CE) and Environmental Engineering and Sciences (EES).

Research in civil and environmental engineering at Rice is broad and interdisciplinary. We believe that the best solutions come from unconventional collaborations — across students and faculty, across disciplines, across departments, and across the spectrum of science and humanities.

Rice University's location in Houston helps provide faculty and students with endless opportunities for collaboration outside the campus. It is the center of the energy industry, home of the Texas Medical Center, and NASA’s Johnson Space Center is just down the road. Living in Houston means employment opportunities throughout the region, parks, professional sports teams, world-class dining, and many cultural attractions.

Home to more than six million people, Houston is the most diverse city in the United States with more than 90 languages are spoken — truly making it an international city.

Learn more about Life in Houston.