Johns Hopkins Engineering Responds to COVID-19

Summer 2020

As the impact of COVID-19 worsened across the United States, in mid-March, the university shifted to remote teaching and operations, as well as a ramp-down of all research activities, with the exception of research related to COVID-19.

Almost immediately, WSE faculty and students launched new research initiatives to meet challenges posed by the pandemic—ranging from the redesign of medical devices and creating technologies to extend the life of personal protective equipment to developing models for improved allocation of medical resources and new methods to screen for COVID-19 antibodies.

Faculty members, with just two weeks to adapt their teaching methods and curricula for online instruction, took part in intensive training in software and best practices, and received guidance from experts to help ensure their course learning objectives would be met.

Students and faculty members alike continue to exhibit tremendous commitment, initiative, and creativity as we all adapt to our “new normal.” In the stories that follow, we share some timely research pursuits, a sampling of our faculty members’ inventive approaches to teaching, some ingenious design projects that students are doing from home, and co-curricular initiatives that draw upon students’ skills and desire to make an impact.

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WSE alumni, are you working in COVID-19 response? Visit bit.ly/WSEAlumni-COVID19 and tell us about what you’re doing!

Additionally, our researchers, medical teams, staff, and students are working tirelessly to help with testing, patient care, and preventive care—with your support we can do more! Visit engineering.jhu.edu/giving to make a gift in support of our efforts.