Meet Rice’s Graduate Ambassador Chun-Ying Chao
Meet Chun-Ying Chao. Chao is a third-year Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University. Chao is from Taiwan and is a Rice Graduate Student Ambassador. Ambassadors are students who represent the university and help prospective students gain knowledge of student life as a graduate student at Rice.
Chao chose Rice as a graduate school because of his passion for conducting research and the relationship he built with Rice faculty members. His research focuses on air quality and how precipitation affects air quality.
When he is not conducting research, he serves in various leadership roles within the Rice community. He is a part of the Taiwanese Student Association on campus.
Chao advises prospective students to contact the faculty they are interested in to help build a connection and understanding between their goals and interests.
“Before making a decision, try to visit the school and see the location since the Ph.D. program is about five to six years,” said Chao. “For research interests, email the professor you are interested in and try to set up a meeting with them.”
Outside of academics, Chao enjoys going to museums in the Museum District. Chao used to be a personal training coach in Taiwan, and they served in the Taiwanese Military for one year.
Graduate ambassadors can be contacted via email at gradambassadors@rice.edu. Chun-Ying Chao can be contacted directly by email at cc130@rice.edu.
