Have Questions About Working At Rice University?
We’ve compiled answes to the questions job seekers ask most often - from our hiring process and benefits to workplace culture and what it's like to build a career at Rice. We hope you'll find the information you need as you explore opportunities with us.
General Questions
You can apply for staff, temporary, and Postdoctoral Associate/Fellow positions at Rice
University’s careers website.
If you are interested in faculty or adjunct positions, please visit the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs website for Faculty Jobs.
Current Rice University students are eligible to apply for student-focused opportunities, including internships, graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, and on-campus student jobs. These opportunities may be found on the 12twenty job board. For additional information on jobs & internships or campus employment, please see the Center for Career Development's website.
Staff: Full-time or part-time positions that support Rice University in various capacities beyond the classroom. These opportunities span all functional areas and units, with both exempt and non-exempt roles.
Postdoctoral Associate/Fellow: Term-limited appointments that provide the holder of a Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate with additional research and scholarly training for an academic or research center or research programs.
Faculty/Adjunct: Academic and faculty opportunities include Tenure-Track, Non-Tenure-Track, Visiting Faculty, Visiting Scholars, Instructors, Educators, and Researchers.
Temporary: Positions that support Rice University in various capacities beyond the classroom. These opportunities span all functional areas and units and are typically limited to terms of less than 6 months or up to 1 year. These are not long-term positions.
The hiring process typically involves an online application, a review of the resume, interviews, and reference checks. The process may vary by role and department. Candidates will be contacted directly by the hiring team if selected for the next steps.
The job posted on the website suggests that it has yet to be filled, and the hiring team is still accepting candidates. However, jobs may be closed or removed at any time. We recommend you submit your application for any positions of interest and qualification as soon as possible.
If you do not see a job listed on the Rice career website, it is because the position has been closed and is no longer accepting applications. Most jobs have an "Apply Before" end date at the bottom of the requisition. If you see a specific date, please ensure that you apply by that date.
You can sign up for Job Alerts to stay updated on similar jobs. If you have already applied for the position, you can check your application status under your profile at any time.
As an Equal Opportunity employer, we kindly request that you refrain from contacting hiring managers directly during an active search. Please contact the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu if you have any questions about a specific position. Please include the requisition number in your email to the Talent Acquisition team.
The university does provide work or visa sponsorship for international applicants, but this is contingent upon the willingness and ability of the specific department. Factors influencing this decision may include available funding, timing, other available qualified applicants, and the nature of the role.
Relocation assistance may be available for select positions. Details vary depending on the role and department.
Work arrangements vary by position and department. Some roles may offer flexible or hybrid options based on operational needs. Specific details are typically discussed during the interview process.
Rice provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well-being, professional development, and work-life balance. For more details, please visit the Total Rewards website.
Yes. Rice University supports ongoing learning and development. Employees are encouraged to grow their skills and explore new opportunities within the university.
You are welcome to apply for as many positions as you wish. However, please make sure you review the qualifications, skills, and required documents before submitting your application.
Please note that once you have applied for a position, you cannot change your application or materials for that role. If you decide to withdraw from a position, you will not be able to reapply for that same role. Before withdrawing your application, please note that this action is irreversible and cannot be reversed.
If you withdraw your application by mistake, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu, and we can assist you in retrieving the application.
On the Careers landing page, scroll to the bottom of the page and sign up for job alerts. Select the Preferred Job Category or Categories you wish to receive alerts about.
If you are unable to find an answer to your questions, you can email the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu.
You will need to follow the instructions sent to you by the department you will be interviewing with. Otherwise, here is a campus map to help you find the building for your interview.
Parking should be complimentary, and you should get a parking voucher at the end of your interview.
Applying
To be considered for a Staff/Temporary/Postdoctoral Associate position, you must apply online and complete the employment application. To apply for a position, click the "Ready to Apply" at the bottom of the requisition and follow the application instructions. You will need to enter your email address to get started. Your profile will be created and updated automatically as you enter details for each job application.
If you need assistance or have questions about applying for a position, contact the Talent Acquisition Team at jobs@rice.edu. If you need accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact facstaffada@rice.edu or call 713.348.2232.
Always check for special instructions in the job description section, especially regarding a cover letter and resume, as not all positions require them. Carefully following these instructions is crucial.
We strongly recommend preparing and including both an updated resume and a cover letter tailored to the specific job, even if they are not explicitly required. Complete all application questions and follow the listed instructions carefully.
Yes, we recommend submitting at least three professional references, with at least one being a past or current supervisor, with your application.
DOC, DOCX, HTML, PDF, or TXT file types (5MB max). However, we suggest the documents be in a PDF format to avoid formatting issues.
Once you have submitted an application, you cannot make any changes to it. We may be able to switch documents, but we cannot change answers. If you wish to replace a document (such as a cover letter or resume), please email the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu. Include the name of the position, the requisition number, and the document(s) you want replaced in your email.
After Applying
After you submit your application, you will receive an email confirming that it has been received. You can view the status of your application at any time by visiting your candidate profile here: Manage Your Profile.
Statuses:
- Under Consideration: We have received your application and are currently reviewing it with the hiring team.
- Not Retained: We have received your application, and after review, the hiring team has decided not to proceed with your application. It can also mean that you do not meet the position's minimum requirements, and your application has been dispensed.
- Withdrawn: You have decided to withdraw your application from the posting.
You will need to log back in to your profile, and when you hover over Status: Under Consideration, you will see a pop-up labeled "Withdraw Application." If you decide to withdraw from a position, you will not be able to reapply for that same role. Before withdrawing your application, please note that this action is irreversible.
If you withdraw your application by mistake, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu.
If the hiring team would like to move forward with your candidacy, they will contact you directly to discuss the next steps in the interview process. You may track your application status by visiting your candidate profile here: Manage Your Profile.
You can email all your questions to the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu. Please include the requisition name and number. You can find the requisition number at the top of the posting on the left-hand side.
Interview Process
No, interviews are offered to candidates whose experience, skills, and qualifications meet or exceed the required qualifications listed in the job posting. If the hiring team would like to move forward with your candidacy, they will contact you directly to discuss the next steps in the interview process.
The duration and scope of each interview will vary based on the role, the level of the position, and the hiring manager.
Please note that interview formats differ by department. Some candidates may begin with phone interviews, followed by Zoom interviews, and then finalists are invited for on-campus interviews. Others will conduct Zoom interviews and then follow up with on-campus interviews. Additionally, some departments use panel interviews or search committees, while others conduct individual interviews.
If you need accommodations during the interview process, please contact facstaffada@rice.edu or call 713.348.2232.
If you have checked on your application and it states “Not Retained”, the hiring manager has decided not to move forward with your candidacy. We encourage you to explore other opportunities that may align with your skills, education, and experience at jobs.rice.edu. New positions are posted regularly, and we welcome your application for future opportunities.
Offer Process
Yes. If you are the selected finalist, reference checks will be conducted before soft offers are extended. The hiring manager will reach out to the finalist to confirm the contact information of 3 references, including past hiring managers. Offers will only be extended once reference checks are completed.
Once the references are complete, the finalist will receive a soft offer from the hiring manager. The official offer will be sent to you by the Talent Acquisition team when you receive the official offer letter.
Yes, you will need to complete a background check if you are a finalist. Employment with the University will require the successful completion of background checks, as per Rice Policy 425.
All the details about the onboarding process are included in the welcome emails after the offer has been accepted.
Rice Employees
Yes, all current Rice employees must apply to advertised jobs, and they must apply as internal applicants in iO.
To view all open positions for Rice employees, go to the Opportunity Marketplace (internal job board) in iO and select the requisition for which you are interested in applying. To locate the Opportunity Marketplace, it will be listed in the "Current Jobs" tile under the "Me" tab in iO.
You can view the jobs and the statuses of the jobs you have applied for by clicking "Submitted Applications" at the bottom of the Opportunity Marketplace page.
In Opportunity Marketplace, you will click and view the Submitted Applications at the bottom of the page. Once you are on Submitted Applications, click on the ellipsis (...) on the right-hand side of the application you wish to withdraw.
Please note that once you have applied for a position, you cannot change your application or materials for that role. If you decide to withdraw from a position, you will not be able to reapply for that same role. Before withdrawing your application, please note that this action is irreversible.
If you withdraw your application by mistake, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu.
Yes, you will undergo another background check if you are selected as a finalist and hired for a different position at Rice University. Employment with the University will require the successful completion of background checks, as per Rice Policy 425.
Yes, you will need to serve another six-month probation period per Rice Policy 421.
Relocation Resources
We have a partnership with Nino Properties to assist you with your relocation. They provide assistance with short-term and temporary housing options, leasing fully furnished accommodations to those in need of high-quality temporary housing. They also provide a full spectrum of home-finding services, for apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and houses, renting or buying, that cater to Houstonians and newcomers. Their services are free to our new and existing employees.
Additional resources include:
Houston Association of Realtors, where you can find current home listings in the greater Houston area
Rice University Off-Campus Housing, listings for available housing for the Rice community
For newly hired staff seeking more information on vendor moving discounts and what is required for reimbursement (if applicable), we advise working with the department administrator in your department.
Account/Portal Help
Please email the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu. Please describe the error and include screenshots so we can assist you more quickly.
If you have forgotten your email address, please email the Talent Acquisition team at jobs@rice.edu, and we can locate it.
If you know the email address associated with your profile, then you can log back in and click on EDIT PERSONAL INFORMATION on the profile landing page. Find the email address and click to edit it.
You do not need a password to log back into your profile. You will enter the email address you used to create your profile in order to confirm your identity. The system will send you a six-digit code via email to log in. Please note that the code will expire 10 minutes after submission.
If you don’t see your question here, we encourage you to explore current opportunities or connect with our recruiting team.
Still Have Questions?
If you don’t see your question answered here, we encourage you to explore current openings or connect with our recruiting team for additional information.
Discover Your Future at Rice
Whether you’re driven by academic excellence, meaningful work, or a collaborative community, Rice University offers a place where your contributions matter and your career can thrive.
