Leading with the Heart with Christophe Kwizera ’26

Half a world away from his home in Rwanda, graduating senior Christophe Kwizera ’26 is conducting cutting-edge research in bioartificial heart manufacturing in the Texas Medical Center. “I’m doing research I didn’t even know existed, thanks to my scholarship from The Rice Fund.”

Christophe Kwizera '26 (Duncan) is game for anything.

"I like things that pull me out of my comfort zone," he says. Since moving to Houston to attend Rice, he has gone indoor skydiving, driven ATVs, explored East African markets and biked all over the city.

"Houston is such a huge, diverse place," he raves. "I've never been bored here."

Born and raised in a suburb of Kigali, Rwanda, Christophe was a frequent visitor of a nearby hospital where his mother worked as a nurse. While he wanted to work in the medical industry, he knew that becoming a doctor was not the path for him — he loved math too much.

Christophe discovered Rice when he represented his country in the Pan-African Math Olympiad. He gathered information about the college application process from other students who were also looking to study abroad. While doing online research, he stumbled across a YouTube video depicting a day in the life of a Rice student.

"I thought, 'this is the place I want to be.' I was really obsessed," he said.

Rice's combination of close faculty mentorship and undergraduate research opportunities appealed to him, but navigating financial aid was a different math problem altogether.

"My family could not afford my Rice education without a scholarship," he says. "It has simply changed my life. Christophe — who I am today — would not exist if The Rice Fund didn't exist. I don't have words to express my thanks to Rice Fund donors."

During his first semester, he found that his passion for math, problem-solving and fabrication aligned perfectly with a mechanical engineering degree. Since then, he has focused his research on surgical robotics and bioartificial organ manufacturing, and he is currently working with The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine.

There, Christophe helps design robotic systems that decellularize donated human or animal hearts, removing the cells while preserving the scaffold's structural integrity. That scaffold can then be recellularized with cardiomyocytes, the muscle cells responsible for making the heart beat. He is also involved in the research to develop the bioreactors where the recellularized scaffold can be supported and grown, with the long-term goal of creating a bioartificial human heart.

"If I hadn't come to Rice, this kind of hands-on research would never have been possible for me. It's really meaningful," he says. "Maybe one day I can work on a project that helps someone who can't find an organ donor."

When working on his projects, his thoughts never stray far from Rwanda.

"I'm thinking about home. I'm thinking about something my village needs," he says. "It's a small country still developing its medical infrastructure, and the equipment they use is still poor."

Being so far from home has come with its challenges, but Rice's residential college system and culture of care has made the transition easier for both him and his family. During move-in, his O-Week family helped him settle into his room and even drove him to doctor's appointments.

"My mom knows I'm in a place where it's not just about school; it's about community. People care about me, support me and want me to succeed."

When asked about his favorite Rice memory, he smiled broadly while talking about Duncan College's birthday tradition — dunking the celebratee's head in the reflection pool before the entire college bursts into a spirited rendition of 'Happy Birthday.'

"That really touched my heart. It is the best birthday I've ever had," he says.

The mentorship Christophe was seeking when he applied to Rice has far exceeded his expectations. In particular, his Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) was a major turning point for him.

"That summer changed my life. I had a doctoral student as my advisor and met weekly with Daniel J. Preston, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. I sat in on two doctoral defenses. It helped me envision a future of working in a research environment."

He carries gratitude with him while passing on guidance to others. He has served as a residential college associate justice, a peer academic advisor, a Tapia STEM camp counselor, a Welcome Center student facilitator and president of the Rice International Students Association.

"I have benefitted from people making time for me and advising me. I can do the same," he says. "I enjoy sharing my experiences, passing along lessons I've learned, and showing others the amazing resources and opportunities available to them."

A graduating senior, Christophe offers this advice to the Owls following him: "Don't be afraid to try things; get out of your comfort zone. You are in a place where people care about you and support you. Show up, be present, and if you fail, someone will catch you — and you'll try again."

Following graduation, Christophe plans to pursue a graduate degree in biomedical engineering and continue his research in medical devices.

"The mentorship of my professors, my amazing residential college, the research I've participated in, the career opportunities … are all because of Rice donors. I won't disappoint you; I'll really do my best," he says.

Learn more about The Rice Fund, and the impact of your support, at giving.rice.edu/rice-fund.