Rice VERTechs Lab Fully Funded PhD and Postdoctoral Openings in Clean Energy
Rice University
The Verma Energy Research and Technologies Lab at Rice University is recruiting two fully funded PhD students and one postdoctoral scholar for Fall 2027. Research spans high-temperature materials, thermal-device engineering and energy-systems analysis for clean-energy technologies.
Incoming Rice University Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Shomik Verma is recruiting two fully funded Ph.D. students and one postdoctoral scholar for the Verma Energy Research and Technologies (VERTechs) Lab beginning in Fall 2027.
The lab works at the intersection of high-temperature materials design, thermal-device engineering and energy-systems analysis. Its goal is to create practical alternatives to legacy technologies that power, propel and heat the world while accelerating the clean-energy transition.
Research directions include thermionics, solid-state heat engines, high-temperature heat pumps, functional-material synthesis, experimental heat transfer, fluid mechanics, micro- and nanofabrication, computational materials science, radiative heat transfer, solar thermochemistry, reaction engineering, grid integration, energy-systems analysis and techno-economics.
Funding: the lab explicitly describes all three openings as fully funded. Rice Mechanical Engineering states that its departmental Ph.D. fellowship covers tuition and includes a monthly living stipend. The lab does not publish the postdoctoral salary or the exact Ph.D. stipend, insurance, fee and duration terms, so candidates should confirm those details in writing.
Benefits
- Two fully funded Ph.D. places and one funded postdoctoral appointment.
- For departmental Ph.D. fellowship recipients: tuition coverage and a monthly living stipend.
- Research training across high-temperature materials, thermal devices and energy systems.
- Work in Houston within a new clean-energy research group at Rice University.
Eligibility summary
- Two openings are for prospective Rice Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. students; one is for a postdoctoral scholar.
- Applicants from diverse technical backgrounds with a strong interest in sustainable energy are encouraged.
- Ideal candidates demonstrate scientific curiosity, ambition, problem-solving initiative, ownership of prior technical projects and a strong commitment to decarbonisation.
- Ph.D. applicants must satisfy Rice Mechanical Engineering doctoral admission requirements.
- Postdoctoral applicants must hold or be completing a relevant doctorate before appointment.
Requirements
- Ph.D. candidates should first email Professor Verma, then submit the formal Rice Mechanical Engineering graduate application and identify the Verma Lab in the statement.
- Postdoctoral candidates should explain how their expertise complements the lab's research vision.
- All candidates should clearly identify the technical topics that most interest them.
Documents required
- Ph.D. applicants: CV and brief statement of research interests for the introductory email, followed by all formal Rice graduate-application materials.
- Postdoctoral applicants: CV, two or three key publications and a short research-fit summary.
Language/test requirements
How to submit applications
Provider: VERTechs Lab, Rice University
Official lab opening: https://vermalab.rice.edu/team/ Rice Mechanical Engineering application and funding FAQ: https://mech.rice.edu/academics/graduate-programs/application-faqs
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