For Raul Rincon, earning a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Rice University was about more than research — it was a journey of personal transformation.
Originally from Colombia, Rincon came to Rice after completing his undergraduate and master’s degrees in civil engineering at Universidad de los Andes. With a background in structural engineering and risk assessment, he chose Rice to expand his research and work alongside faculty whose scholarship he had long followed.
“When I was planning to do my Ph.D., I wanted to expand and go beyond some of the work that I had been doing before,” Rincon said.
Rincon said Houston’s diversity and opportunities for both academic and professional growth made Rice an especially appealing choice for him and his wife, who moved with him to the United States. Over five years, he built a strong community through student organizations, including Fulbright and Latin American graduate groups, as well as friendships that extended beyond campus.
“I think that’s a signature of Rice — building community,” he said.
That sense of connection was especially meaningful during milestone moments, such as his dissertation defense and the university’s tie-cutting tradition, in which doctoral graduates mark the completion of their degrees.
“Cutting your tie after your defense is very important,” Rincon said. “You don’t want to just graduate. You want to cut your tie … it means a lot.”
Rincon credits the Fulbright Program and Rice’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies with providing both professional support and a close-knit community throughout his doctoral journey.
Looking back, he describes the Ph.D. experience as deeply transformative.
“For me, the Ph.D. was transforming myself,” Rincon said. “It’s not about how much you can learn … it’s about who you are at the end.”
After graduating, Rincon will continue at Rice as a postdoctoral researcher before joining the University of Colorado Boulder as an assistant professor in civil, environmental and architectural engineering.