John P. Coulter, senior associate dean for research in Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, will serve as chair-elect of the Engineering Research Council (ERC) of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), effective June 1.
Coulter, a long-time professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics with current research interests that include polymer processing and additive manufacturing, is currently serving his second consecutive three-year term on the ERC board of directors. He joined the board in 2017.
The ERC, which comprises representatives from engineering colleges, industry, and government, discusses issues and exchanges information pertaining to the research activities of ASEE society members.
“Serving on the ERC helps keep Lehigh informed about engineering research issues and connected with other institutions on the national level,” says Coulter, who oversees the operation and continuous enhancement of engineering research throughout the university. “I truly enjoy our work and look forward to continuing my service as chair-elect.”
As a member of the ERC board of directors, Coulter plays a key role in designing programming for the ASEE Research Leadership Institute (RLI), an annual workshop for associate deans of research and similar positions across all disciplines that covers topics such as building industry relationships and graduate student recruiting and mentoring. At RLI2022, which was held in March, he served as a moderator for sessions on peer-to-peer networking, research matching fund administration, and supporting convergent and interdisciplinary research
Coulter has more than 30 years of teaching and research experience at Lehigh. His research focuses on manufacturing science and intelligent mechanical and material systems. He has led projects with faculty in all of the Rossin College’s eight engineering departments and across the university, generated more than $10 million in research and teaching grants, has written more than 200 professional papers, and holds several patents.
His accomplishments at Lehigh have been recognized through several teaching and research awards, federal and industrial research support, a prestigious NSF National Young Investigator award, and Lehigh’s first-ever NSF Presidential Faculty Fellow award.
Coulter was recently elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) in recognition of his wide-ranging contributions through impactful research, educational innovation, and professional service.
