By Editorial Services
Bioengineering professor Anand Ramamurthi has been appointed Associate Dean for Global Engineering Initiatives in Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, effective July 1. Ramamurthi concluded his six-year tenure as chair of the Department of Bioengineering to assume the newly created position, where he will lead the college’s efforts to expand international partnerships, strengthen global research collaborations, and create new opportunities for students and faculty.
As associate dean, Ramamurthi will work with faculty and university leaders to advance the Rossin College’s international engagement through strategic partnerships with universities, industry, and government organizations around the world. He will also expand opportunities for students to participate in international learning, research, and internship experiences while supporting faculty in developing global research collaborations.
“Anand has distinguished himself as a researcher, educator and academic leader, and he has already demonstrated the ability to build strong international relationships that benefit our students, faculty, and research enterprise,” says Stephen P. DeWeerth, the Lew and Sherry Hay Dean of Engineering. “As we continue to expand the college’s global partnerships, his experience and vision make him the right person to lead those efforts.”
Ramamurthi joined the Rossin College as Bioengineering chair in 2020. During his tenure, he led a strategic transformation of the department, launching new academic programs, expanding graduate education, recruiting outstanding faculty, and strengthening the department's research enterprise. He also established international partnerships that enhanced research collaboration and elevated the department's national profile.
Xuanhong Cheng, Professor of Bioengineering and Materials Science and Engineering, was appointed chair effective July 1. An internationally recognized researcher in microfluidics, biosensors, and biomedical devices, Cheng has been a member of the Lehigh faculty since 2008 and has held leadership roles that advance interdisciplinary research and graduate education, including serving as associate director of Lehigh's Institute for Functional Materials and Devices.
Building international engineering partnerships
Ramamurthi’s appointment builds on his growing leadership in Lehigh’s international initiatives. Following his work in furthering Lehigh’s partnerships and engagement in India as a Provost Faculty Fellow in 2022-2023, in 2025, he was named Senior Advisor for Global Strategy (India) in the Office of International Affairs, where he has worked to strengthen the university’s engagement in one of its priority international markets by cultivating partnerships with academic institutions, industry, and other organizations.
As associate dean, Ramamurthi will develop the Rossin College's global strategy and transnational education framework, setting the direction for the college's international partnerships, graduate pathways, and research collaborations. He will advance the college’s position in priority markets such as in South, Southeast, and Central Asia, shape the University’s broader international agenda in partnership with the Office of International Affairs, and build expanded global learning opportunities for students and faculty including study abroad, international internships, and research experiences.
Research leadership with global reach
Ramamurthi is an internationally recognized researcher whose work focuses on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. His laboratory develops biomaterials and therapeutic approaches to repair and regenerate connective tissues, with the goal of improving treatments for conditions such as aortic aneurysms and pelvic organ prolapse that affect millions of people worldwide. Earlier this year, he was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), one of the highest professional honors in the field.
“Engineering is a borderless discipline,” says Ramaurthi. “The problems worth solving in health, energy, and intelligent systems don’t stop at any border. I’m excited to help Lehigh engage the world deliberately, carrying the Rossin College’s expertise into global markets that are established, growing, and newly emergent, and bringing back the perspectives and partnerships that make our research and our students stronger.”
