Oxford Bound
Senior Jae Kim will use his Rhodes Scholarship to study health and environmental policy.
Spring 2025
By Chris Stipes
Photos by Jeff Fitlow
Rice senior Jae Kim ’25 has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, one of just 32 American recipients — and the sole representative from a Texas university — chosen to study at the University of Oxford in England this fall. Rice’s 13th Rhodes Scholar and first since 2015, Kim is pursuing an undergraduate major in integrative biology, an interdisciplinary field that studies the integration across all levels of biological organization — from biomolecules to cells, and from individual organisms to ecosystems — with a minor in environmental studies.
The Rhodes Scholars chosen from the U.S. will join an international group of scholars chosen from more than 70 countries. The Rhodes Trust covers all college and university fees, provides a stipend for living expenses during term time and vacations, and includes transportation to and from England.
“I’ve never been to England or Oxford before,” said Kim, who was born in Korea and grew up in New York. “I’m most excited to build relationships with Rhodes Scholars and Oxford students from around the world, learning from their fields of study and lived experiences.” Kim will spend two years at Oxford pursuing dual Master of Science degrees — one in environmental change and management and the other in evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation. He ultimately plans to attend medical school, aspiring to become a physician advocate who helps shape environmental policy.
“Climate change is the defining issue of our time, as it threatens the future of life itself on Earth,” he said. “During my time at Rice, I realized I want to dedicate my career to advocating for the people, animals and ecosystems most impacted — advancing the health of our societies and the health of our planet hand in hand.”
But before moving to Oxford, Kim has an unprecedented four-month summer break. “I plan on spending two months pursuing an internship at a climate justice-focused NGO or a research institute in Europe. For the remaining months, I’ll be traveling with my twin sister and visiting my extended family in Korea.”
Kim attributes his success in earning this prestigious scholarship to the many leadership opportunities he had at Rice. As the Rice Student Association president, he presides over SA Senate meetings and collaborates with a variety of administrative offices and student leaders to improve the Rice experience. “Rice taught me how to build community and collaborate with others to drive meaningful change. That foundation in leadership played a key role in my success with this scholarship.”
“Jae exemplifies the spirit of excellence and commitment to societal impact that we strive to nurture in all our students. His passion for addressing climate change and his vision for a healthier, more sustainable world inspire us all,” said Rice President Reginald DesRoches.