Rice University psychologist Tianjun Sun has received National Science Foundation support for a collaborative project with the University of Florida examining fairness in AI-powered job interviews. As chatbots and video-based systems increasingly screen candidates, Sun’s research applies psychometric principles to assess whether these tools measure what they claim to, avoid bias across demographics, and are perceived as fair by job seekers. The findings aim to guide the development of more ethical hiring technologies as artificial intelligence becomes a routine part of recruitment.

Keith Renshaw, Senior Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, Office of the Provost, received funding for: “VISR 3.0: Learning Management System Development and Implementation.”

Evaluating research quality is central to building scientific knowledge, yet social sciences often face challenges due to methodological limits and disciplinary biases in existing tools. A new study addressed these gaps by systematically reviewing current approaches and developing the Quality Appraisal Checklist for Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed-Methods Studies (QQM Checklist). This concise, versatile tool enhances rigor in assessing diverse study types and supports more transparent, evidence-based decisions in both research and funding.

The UK should develop a ‘global’ sponsorship programme to give all sponsored refugees the same rights and entitlements, including pathways to permanent settlement - benefiting communities, local authorities, volunteers and refugees, according to new research.