'Coated sand' excels at water purification

Researchers at Rice University are spinning a bit of nano-based magic to create "coated sand" that has enhanced properties for water purification. The breakthrough may benefit developing countries where more than a billion people lack clean drinking water.

Conflict of Interest

Rice policies on conflicts of interest and commitment stipulate that full-time faculty and staff owe their primary professional allegiance to the University. Outside activities and obligations must be arranged in ways that respect this relationship and that do not interfere with individuals' University responsibilities. It is important to note that many outside relationships are appropriate and do not constitute financial conflict of interest. Accurately completing the annual disclosure of outside activities' form and reporting to the University the variety of relationships an Investigator has with an outside entity is critical to the success of an effective conflict of interest management program.

Fourth Year of the Collaborative Research Fund

We are extremely happy to announce the fourth round of the Virginia and L.E. Simmons Family Foundation Collaborative Research Fund. The foundation generously provided $3 million over five years for collaborative research among investigators at Rice University, Texas Children’s Hospital, and The Methodist Hospital Research Institute. The program is designed to promote truly excellent, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research among investigators at the three institutions. The program focuses on junior investigators who have not yet established funding as well as experienced investigators who are new to collaboration among the three institutions. The funding is not intended to support existing collaborations.

Avoiding Research Misconduct

In "The Lab: Avoiding Research Misconduct," you become the lead characters in an interactive movie and make decisions about integrity in research that can have long-term consequences. The simulation addresses Responsible Conduct of Research topics such as avoiding research misconduct, mentorship responsibilities, handling of data, responsible authorship, and questionable research practices.

NSF Data Management Plans

Effective 18 January 2011, the NSF requires a Data Management Plan for all proposals as of January 18, 2011. Read NSFs Data Management Plan Requirements at http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp and see sample plans written by members of the Rice Faculty Senate's Research Committee.

Texas Children's is first TMC institution to join Rice's BioScience Research Collaborative

Texas Children's Hospital became the first Texas Medical Center institution to lease space in Rice University's new BioScience Research Collaborative, a place where scientists and educators from the university and TMC institutions will work together on research that benefits human medicine and health.

Rice's patent portfolio has best impact factor

Rice University has leapt to the forefront of American research universities for the impact on industry of its accumulated patents, according to a company that analyzes intellectual property. The Patent Board, a Chicago firm that ranks companies for the prowess of their properties, raised Rice to No. 1 in the "Industry Impact" category on its first public ranking of research universities.

Rice wins stimulus funding for physics building

Rice University was awarded $11.1 million in federal stimulus funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for construction of the Brockman Hall for Physics, a new state-of-the-art research facility.