Sabrina Jedlicka Named Deputy Provost for Graduate Education

In her 15 years at Lehigh University, Jedlicka has been instrumental in the success of engineering students.

Sabrina Jedlicka

Sabrina Jedlicka has been named deputy provost for graduate education, effective Sept.1. In this role, she will oversee all aspects of graduate education and graduate student life.

As associate dean for academic affairs in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, a role she has held since 2020, she has led efforts in innovating, transforming and expanding academic programming.

She oversaw the academic office and coordinated all undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs in the college. Jedlicka collaborated closely with all college departments and program directors. Through her work with student organizations, she has been a trusted resource for students, from course selection to career guidance, and remains a passionate advocate for women in STEM.

Jedlicka organized the first-year engineering course, ENGR 005, and the interdisciplinary capstone course for bioengineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering, where she worked with students on developing a robust engineering mindset and applying their engineering skills to real-world problems.

Jedlicka is an associate professor in the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, and Bioengineering.

“Sabrina has been instrumental in student access and success in the College of Engineering and she also played a key role in last year’s strategic planning process,” said Provost Nathan Urban. “She has been an educational leader at the college and department levels. She is deeply committed to challenging and supporting students, and her enthusiasm for bioengineering and materials science has motivated and energized many future engineers.

"Growth of graduate and professional education will be critical to Lehigh’s future and I see Sabrina as well equipped to work with the colleges to expand the scope and scale of graduate education at Lehigh through the development of innovative programs that meet the needs of today’s students. I look forward to working with her to advance and enrich graduate education at Lehigh.”

“I am thrilled to assume the role of deputy provost for graduate education,” Jedlicka said. “My previous work focused on academics and student recruiting in the College of Engineering, and I am eager to transition into this role and assist graduate students of all programs in experiencing a holistic Lehigh education.”

A Deep Impact on the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering

Since joining Lehigh in 2008, Jedlicka has advanced cutting-edge research while remaining student-focused. She has assisted students in applying for grants to further their research and encouraged students to engage in research that aligned with their academic interests.

An accomplished researcher, Jedlicka’s interests span both engineering and biology, delving into biomaterials synthesis and characterization, stem cell engineering, neuroengineering, biointerface design, surface science and neuronal cell biology. Past research areas have included stem cell applications, regenerative medicine, cell-based devices and biosensing technology. She has published in “Acta Biomateriala,” “Journal of Materials Chemistry,” “Applied and Environmental Microbiology,” “Journal of Neuroscience Methods” and more.

Jedlicka has been awarded several grants from the National Science Foundation, as well as Lehigh internal research grants. She has received awards from the National Science Foundation, the Institute for Biological Engineering, Lehigh University, Purdue University and Kansas State University. She has served in several volunteer positions for the Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE), including president, which was a one-year term that began in April 2021.

Jedlicka holds a master’s and doctoral degree in biological engineering from Purdue University, and bachelor’s degrees in biological engineering and psychology from Kansas State University.

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