Richard G. Baraniuk, the C. Sidney Burrus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, has been awarded the 2025 IEEE Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal. This honor recognizes Baraniuk’s exceptional achievements in signal processing, particularly his pioneering work in multiscale and sparse signal processing. Notably, Baraniuk’s professorship is named after his mentor, Charles Sidney Burrus, a former dean of engineering at Rice, who also won the Kilby Medal in 2009.
Baraniuk’s innovative contributions have advanced the theoretical and practical frontiers of signal processing and machine learning. His work has focused on low-dimensional models, deep learning theory, compressive sensing and time-frequency analysis with applications ranging from medical imaging to advanced sensing technologies. His research has garnered support from prominent organizations, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Department of Defense.
“I am honored to receive the 2025 IEEE Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal,” Baraniuk said. “This recognition is a testament to the incredible collaborations I’ve been fortunate to have throughout my career with colleagues, students and partners in both academia and industry. Signal processing has the power to transform lives from advancing medical imaging to enabling amazing, interactive educational tools that work for all learners, and I am grateful to have contributed to this field alongside so many brilliant minds. I share this honor with everyone who has inspired and supported my journey.”
Beyond his contributions to signal processing, Baraniuk is a pioneer of the open education movement. As the founder and director of OpenStax, the world’s largest publisher of open educational resources and a provider of learning technologies based at Rice, he has transformed access to learning materials worldwide. OpenStax textbooks have reached over 25 million students, saving them an estimated $2.9 billion since 2012.
Baraniuk is also the director of SafeInsights, the nation’s seminal infrastructure for education research supported by the NSF. The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of partners and collaborating institutions working together to safely and securely advance learning research.
Baraniuk’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including membership in the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a fellow of the IEEE, the National Academy of Inventors and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He also holds 45 U.S. patents, many of which have been licensed for transformative applications in magnetic resonance imaging and consumer electronics. He has received numerous research and education awards, including the IEEE James H. Mulligan, Jr. Education Medal and the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education.
“This well-deserved recognition reflects not only Professor Baraniuk’s groundbreaking contributions to signal processing but also his dedication to innovation, education and the advancement of humanity through technology,” said Luay Nakhleh, the William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering and Computing. “Professor Baraniuk continues to embody the excellence and leadership that define Rice Engineering and Computing, following in the extraordinary legacy of Charles Sidney Burrus. We are incredibly proud to celebrate his remarkable achievements and the profound impact of his work.”
The Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal highlights Rice’s long-standing leadership in digital signal processing research. To date, six Rice faculty members and doctoral alumni have received this prestigious honor — more than any other institution globally. This achievement underscores Rice’s commitment to advancing premier research and shaping the future of responsible AI.
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