Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Rice University
Residential: June 21-27 | July 5-11 | July 12-18 | July 19-25
Commuter: June 22-26 | July 6-10 | July 13-17 | July 20-24
Transform from aspiring engineer to confident developer at Rice University through hands-on projects, advanced algorithms, and startup simulations with Rice faculty and industry pros.
Engineer Tomorrow's Tech Breakthroughs
Ready to go beyond coding tutorials? Rice ELITE Tech Camp is your gateway to advanced technology and engineering, designed for ambitious high school students who dream of shaping the future.
What Makes This Different? Train actual AI models, program real robots, explore neural networks, and tackle college-level engineering challenges—all while living on Rice University's campus like a real engineering student.
Your Experience
- Build AI, robotics, and machine learning projects
- Master advanced programming and 3D design
- Connect with tech-obsessed students worldwide
- Learn from Rice faculty and engineering mentors
- Develop leadership skills through hands-on workshops
Whether your passion lies in artificial intelligence, robotics, biomedical engineering, or software development, this program gives you the hands-on experience and insider perspective to make informed decisions about your technology career.
Don't just dream about engineering the future—start building it.
Sample 2026 Schedule
Day 1: Residential Student Arrival and Welcome
Days 2-6: Program Details
Day 7: Departure
This sample schedule is provided as an example of the overall quality and scope of the experience offered and is not intended to represent a specific schedule for 2026. The specific 2026 schedule, locations, speakers, and site visits may be modified.
Courses
This Summer, Rice ELITE Tech Camp will offer the following courses:
Deep Learning: Deploying AI to Maintain Smart Cities
In this course, you will use Python to design and implement a neural network algorithm capable of classifying structure images as damaged and determine the damage level.
3D Modeling & 3D Printing
Learn 3D modeling in Fusion 360 and design for additive manufacturing principles, then create and print their own unique 3D model to take home.
Learning C++ for Human Spaceflight Engineering
Students will explore the fluid mechanics and rocket design principles behind SpaceX's achievements while learning scientific computation and programming in C++.
Internet of Things, Machine Learning & Python
Students will explore applied machine learning and IoT through hands-on modules with real-time sensors, learning Python and MySQL while deploying code to the cloud and understanding real-world industry applications.
Biomedical Engineering: Musculoskeletal dynamics of human motion
This course introduces students to principles of biomedical engineering through computational and experimental analysis. Students simulate musculoskeletal dynamics within human activities, and apply these concepts in a final simulation challenge focused on sports and physical therapy.
Robotic Engineering I: Adding Robot Muscles to Your Inventive Ideas
Learn to design and control electric motors for robotics and automation, exploring motor types, Arduino programming, torque and power concepts, plus solenoids and actuators for hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Robotic Engineering II: Adding Sensors for Your Robot to See, Hear, Feel, and Smell
Students will learn how robots perceive their environment by deploying sensors for sight, sound, touch, and smell using the Arduino platform through hands-on experimentation—no Robotics I prerequisite required.
Learning Python to Solve Engineering Problems
Learn to solve thermal energy problems like a mechanical engineer as you develop your own Python code to model temperature changes when food is cooked and predict when it reaches a safe-to-eat temperature. Then, a home experiment to test and verify the temperature predictions.
What's Included?
- All curriculum and instruction
- Program activities
- Site visits and events
- Program materials
- At least two meals a day
- Local transportation during program
- Certificate of achievement
Now I Know
Hear directly from Rice ELITE Tech Camp alumni about what they now know after attending the program and how it has helped inspire them to pursue their passion.