Beginning a doctoral program can be both exhilarating and isolating, a transition Rice University is addressing through Thrive@Rice, a program designed to support first-year Ph.D. students as they adjust to the academic, personal and social demands of graduate life.
Created by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, Thrive@Rice is a community-centered experience for first-year doctoral students that fosters connection, peer mentorship and community building across disciplines. Students from engineering, sciences, humanities and the arts come together for structured conversations, informal gatherings, and opportunities to connect with campus offices and resources that support graduate student success.
“The transition to a doctoral program comes with many changes that can be both exciting and overwhelming,” said Dr. Vanessa Espinosa, ‘23, who leads the program. “Thrive@Rice was created as a support system that reminds students they don’t have to navigate those changes alone.”
For first-year biochemistry doctoral student Hayden Stegall, Thrive@Rice provided one of his first opportunities to meet peers outside his program.
“I had only met people in my department until I came to a Thrive event,” Stegall said. “It helped me realize how important it is to have a community beyond your lab.”
That sense of connection is especially important for students who may feel isolated during the early stages of graduate school. Applied mathematics doctoral student Daniela Medrano said Thrive played a key role in helping her build friendships during her first semester at Rice.
“Graduate school is demanding,” Medrano said. “You need friends, even if they aren’t in your field, who understand how challenging it can be and can support you along the way.”
Student leaders also play a central role in Thrive@Rice, helping facilitate conversations and share lessons learned from their own graduate experiences. Fiona Shea, a doctoral student in music and a Thrive student leader, said the program helps students learn about resources early, before schedules become more demanding.
“First year is when you still have some flexibility to explore what Rice offers,” Shea said. “Once you know where to go and who to contact, it makes a big difference later on.”
In addition to social programming, Thrive@Rice encourages open discussions about common graduate-school challenges, including imposter syndrome, collaboration, time management and maintaining balance. By normalizing these conversations early, organizers hope to set students up for long-term success.
As Rice’s doctoral population continues to grow, Thrive@Rice has become an increasingly important part of the graduate student experience.
“It’s more than just resources,” said doctoral student and Thrive@Rice leader Max Paxtian. “It’s about helping students find their community and their place at Rice.”
For participants, the impact is clear. “I’m really happy here,” Medrano said. “Programs like Thrive make Rice feel like home.”