<h2>I received an email today from the Rice Office of Admission:</h2>
<p>(Cutiepieee),</p>
<p>The National Academy of Engineering has elected Rice University Professor Naomi Halas as one of its new inductees. Halas was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences last year, making her one of only 12 women ever chosen for both academies. Election to these academies is one of the highest honors that can be conferred upon a U.S. scientist or engineer.</p>
<p>Dr. Halas is the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a professor of biomedical engineering, chemistry, and physics and astronomy. A pioneer in the field of plasmonics, she is the founding director of Rice's Laboratory for Nanophotonics and director of the Rice Quantum Institute.</p>
<p>Halas drew international attention for inventing gold nanoshells, which were among the first optically tunable nanoparticles. Later, Halas used nanoshells to develop a cancer treatment that is now in clinical trials. In 2012, she and Rice professor Peter Norlander unveiled a technology that uses nanoparticles to convert solar energy directly into steam, which could have sanitation and water-purification applications in the developing world.</p>
<p>As the birthplace of nanotechnology, Rice continues to unlock the potential of this field thanks to pioneering professors like Dr. Halas. Consider what you might discover as you work with faculty and peers who make an impact on a global scale—and on a nanoscopic one.</p>
<p>Rice ranked No. 1 Best Quality of Life 2014 Fiske Guide to Colleges - Best Buy School
Sincerely,</p>
<p>Julie M. Browning</p>
<h2>Dean for Undergraduate Enrollment</h2>
<p>I'm a female applying to electrical engineering, so I don't know if this just targets those specific applicants, or if it was sent to everyone, or if it's a likely letter. Or maybe it's just highlighting an amazing professor and her accomplishments :P Any insight? Also I didn't get into Vision but I'm not economically disadvantaged.</p>