By Editorial Services
Professor Xuanhong Cheng has been appointed chair of the Department of Bioengineering in Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, effective July 1, 2026.
A member of the Lehigh faculty since 2008, Cheng is an internationally recognized researcher whose work spans bioengineering, microfluidics, biosensors, and point-of-care diagnostics. She succeeds Professor Anand Ramamurthi, who has been appointed associate dean for global engineering initiatives in the Rossin College.
“I am honored to serve as chair of the Department of Bioengineering and to build on the department's strong foundation in research, education and innovation,” says Cheng, who also holds an appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and strategically expanding our faculty to position research teams for major collaborative grants. Alongside cultivating an inclusive, supportive culture within our department, I am eager to build dynamic, interdisciplinary partnerships across campus to advance both our research and educational missions. Furthermore, I am deeply committed to strengthening ties among our students, our alumni network, and regional industries.”
Throughout her career at Lehigh, Cheng has helped advance interdisciplinary research while fostering collaborations across engineering, the sciences, and medicine. She serves as associate director of Lehigh’s Institute for Functional Materials and Devices, where she has helped strengthen partnerships among researchers working to address complex scientific and technological challenges. She is also a collaborator within Lehigh’s Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies and has mentored numerous undergraduate students through the university's Creative Inquiry program.
Cheng’s research focuses on developing microfluidic and BioMEMS technologies for biomedical applications, including point-of-care diagnostics, biosensing, and the study of biological systems at the microscale. Her work has been supported by federal agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and has contributed to advances in disease diagnostics, biomarker detection and precision health. More recently, her research has explored applications including long-COVID diagnostics, experiments investigating thermophoresis aboard the International Space Station, and the biodegradation of polymeric materials towards sustainable polymer development.
“Xuanhong is an accomplished scholar, an outstanding mentor, and a collaborative leader whose work exemplifies the interdisciplinary spirit of bioengineering,” says Stephen P. DeWeerth, the Lew and Sherry Hay Dean of Engineering. “She has earned the respect of colleagues across the university through her research excellence and her commitment to advancing education and collaboration. I am confident she will lead the department to even greater success.”
As chair, Cheng will lead the Department of Bioengineering’s academic, research and strategic initiatives while supporting faculty excellence, student success and continued growth in interdisciplinary scholarship. The department is recognized for research spanning biomaterials, biomechanics, bioimaging, cellular engineering, diagnostics, assistive technologies and medical technologies, and for preparing students to address challenges at the intersection of engineering, biology and human health.
Cheng earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Wuhan University in China and her doctoral degree in Bioengineering from University of Washington before joining the Lehigh faculty.
