A researcher from Rice University has been named among the world’s top emerging scholars in networking and communications, earning a place on the 2025 N2Women Rising Stars list.
Each year, N2Women honors 10 outstanding early-career women researchers from around the globe whose work is advancing the fields of computer networking and communications. The Rising Stars distinction recognizes junior researchers within 10 years of completing their Ph.D. who demonstrate exceptional innovation, impact and leadership in the discipline.
Among this year’s honorees is Kun Woo Cho, a postdoctoral researcher in Rice’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where she is advised by Professor Ashutosh Sabharwal.
Cho’s research focuses on building next-generation wireless communication and radar systems, technologies that are increasingly critical to applications ranging from autonomous systems to advanced sensing and connectivity. Her work aims to expand how wireless networks operate, improving both performance and efficiency in complex, real-world environments.
Reflecting on the recognition, Cho emphasized both her interdisciplinary path and the mentors who helped shape it.
“I am grateful to receive this award. My career has taken a few turns: I began in chemical engineering as an undergraduate, moved into computer engineering, conducted RF hardware research as a computer science Ph.D. student, and now work in electrical and computer engineering as a postdoc,” she said. “Through this journey, I learned to focus on what I want to pursue and dive into new directions with courage. This would not have been possible without the support of my advisors.”
She added, “I am especially thankful to my advisor Professor Ashutosh Sabharwal as well as Professor Ashok Veeraraghavan for their support and guidance in both my research and career development. I am very fortunate to have them as mentors and role models.”
Cho earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Princeton University in 2024. Early in her career, Cho has already received a number of prestigious honors including the 2025 Siebel Scholarship, 2025 ACM MobiSys Rising Star recognition, the 2024 EECS Rising Star award from MIT, the 2023 Princeton SEAS Excellence Award and a Best Paper Award at ACM MobiHoc 2023.
The N2Women Rising Stars award is considered a significant early-career distinction in the global networking and communications community. This year’s cohort represents leading institutions across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, reflecting both the competitiveness of the selection process and the global reach of the field.
Cho’s recognition highlights the strength of Rice University School of Engineering and Computing in advancing cutting-edge research in wireless systems and communications, as well as its commitment to developing the next generation of engineering leaders.