About RSBI

The Rice Synthetic Biology Institute will catalyze collaborative research and its translation into technologies that benefit society.

The Rice Synthetic Biology Institute (RSBI) will make the impact of our community greater than the sum of its parts by catalyzing new collaborations, connecting basic and translational research, and promoting our international reputation. Specifically, it will:

  1. Nurture a deeply collaborative community by assembling interdisciplinary research teams, supporting proposal development, and administering funded projects. The institute will also facilitate the growth of a shared, cutting-edge infrastructure with the long-term goal of establishing a world-renowned building that can become the home of our faculty, institute, and research. To support this mission, RSBI plans to host annual retreats, organize a faculty colloquia, support the SynBio Supergroup, and provide professional development resources for its members.
  2. Connect basic and translational research by catalyzing interdisciplinary pursuits across administrative structures within Rice and between Rice and the Texas Medical Center, the biotechnology sector, non-profits, and the government. The institute will do so by bringing people together, empowering faculty at all stages of their careers to grow these connections, and supporting faculty once new connections are built. To support this mission, RSBI plans to create a postdoctoral fellows program, host an annual synthetic biology meeting for the Gulf Coast region, and engage in outreach activities.
  3. Elevate our international visibility and reputation and catalyze faculty recognition and awards by making Rice a destination for international research leaders, supporting the recruitment of the most creative scholars at all levels, and training the next generation of leaders in synthetic biology. The institute will pursue this vision in a manner that grows our research excellence and distinguishes us globally from other leading institutions. To support this mission, RSBI plans to create a Global Visiting Scholars Program, host a Distinguished Lectureship series, and engage with alumni and external partners more meaningfully.