On May 26, 2020, the Rice University COVID-19 Research Fund Oversight and Review Committee announced it had awarded nine final grants to faculty working to mitigate the effects of the new coronavirus. Researchers at Rice, some with collaborators at other institutions, study social, political, psychological and epidemiological aspects of COVID-19.

The grants were part of the third and final round to be backed by the fund, which announced its first round on April 20 and second round on May 7. The committee was led by Marcia O’Malley, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a professor of electrical and computer engineering and of computer science. O’Malley is a special adviser to the provost on educational and research initiatives for collaborative health.

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report.