Overview of

Academic Programs

The Smalley-Curl Institute provides multiple opportunities for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students. Select the tab or program name for more information.

Applied Physics Graduate Program
The Rice Applied Physics Graduate Program offers one of the few doctoral degrees in applied physics in the world. A joint effort of the School of Natural Sciences and the School of Engineering at Rice, this program provides a truly multidisciplinary graduate education. We produce well-trained physicists who can apply their knowledge and skills in basic physics to important cutting-edge problems in diverse disciplines of modern science and engineering.

Smalley-Curl Innovative Research Graduate Fellowship
The Smalley-Curl Innovative Research Fellowship will be awarded to outstanding Applied Physics students with a truly innovative research project.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows
The Smalley-Curl Institute provides several endowed postdoctoral research fellowships.

International Programs
SCI offers an international university exchange program for APP students:
- Rice-Toulouse Exchange

To foster and strengthen international collaborations, SCI also manages two undergraduate student research internship programs to host visiting students at Rice:

TOMODACHI-STEM Women’s Leadership & Research Program
Rice-USTC Program
MACHI Program

SCI-STAR
This program provides graduate students with the opportunity to propose, plan, and oversee original research projects and gives undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in specialized research projects. The goal of this program is to develop graduate students as leaders in science, especially in the context of mentorship and group management.