Rice University Establishes an Award to Honor the Late Marjorie Corcoran

Rice University in Houston, Texas, has established the Marjorie Corcoran Award that will honor a scholar who has made major contributions to the advancement of women or students from underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines.

Dr. Corcoran, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, died on February 3, 2017 after being struck by a light-rail train while bicycling on a Houston street. She was 66 years old.

In announcing the award, David Leebron, president of Rice University and Marie Lynn Miranda, provost at the university stated that Professor Corcoran “modeled the way for so many — inspiring by example, offering encouragement and contributing in many ways to the progress of women and underrepresented minorities within STEM fields. A much-admired professor, she worked tirelessly on behalf of her students.”

Dr. Corcoran joined the faculty at Rice University in 1980. Her research was focused on experimental particle physics. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Professor Corcoran earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Dayton. She held a Ph.D. from Indiana University in Bloomington.