Partners in discovery

This fall carried special significance for me and for our community, as I was installed as the Lew and Sherry Hay Dean during Founder’s Weekend—a moment that reinforced the responsibility and promise of our shared mission.

I am honored to carry this title, which reflects not only the Hays’ extraordinary generosity but also their deep commitment to Lehigh and to engineering research and education. Their gift strengthens our college in enduring ways—supporting faculty and students, fueling research, and enhancing the programs that prepare our graduates to lead. Progress happens through partnership, and I am grateful for their vision and trust.

The stories in this issue illustrate the breadth of that vision and showcase the innovative programs, such as FYRE, the new First-Year Rossin Experience, and the boundary-breaking work taking place  throughout our college.

Artificial intelligence is one area of focus: You will read about a project that uses brain organoids to explore how biological computation could make AI more energy efficient.  Another applies AI to better predict material reliability. A third develops strategies to defend water systems from cyber attacks. Taken as a whole, these efforts show how our community blends discovery with impact—AI being just one example of the many fields where Lehigh engineers are making a difference.

Our cover feature, “Powering What’s Next,” highlights the ongoing leadership of Lehigh’s Energy Research Center in reimagining how our society generates and uses energy. Since its founding in 1972, the ERC has been at the forefront of innovation. Its research has expanded to include critical emerging areas such as decarbonization, renewable energy integration, thermal energy storage, and the water-energy nexus, reflecting a commitment to addressing the evolving challenges of these essential systems.

This issue also showcases bioengineering research aimed at improving women’s health. Through partnerships with clinicians, industry, and global collaborators, our faculty are working with wearable technologies, developing regenerative therapies, and designing 3D tissue models. Their projects demonstrate how engineering can advance understanding of and potential treatments for conditions that affect women throughout their lives.

In our Q&A, Lehigh Trustee and alumnus Drew Freed discusses the value of hands-on learning and real-world experience in engineering education. His philanthropy—including endowing the Undergraduate Research Symposium in honor of his parents and helping establish the Freed Family Robotics Design Studio, among other initiatives—has provided students with the resources and pathways to apply classroom knowledge in meaningful ways. These efforts continue to enrich undergraduate education and to nurture the next generation of engineers.

Finally, this issue’s Rising Star article spotlights two AIR Lab faculty members who recently earned NSF CAREER awards for their innovative work in robotics. Cristian-Ioan Vasile (mechanical engineering and mechanics) is developing methods to assess and plan around robot capabilities, enabling teams of autonomous machines to operate reliably in complex, real-world environments. David Saldaña (computer science and engineering) is designing drones that can manipulate flexible objects and adapt in real time, inspired by the ways animals navigate dynamic surroundings. Their research highlights how Lehigh faculty integrate creativity, engineering, and AI to push the boundaries of robotics and shape technologies with lasting societal impact.

As I reflect on Founder’s Weekend and the stories gathered here, I’m struck by how they reinforce one another. The Hays’ gift amplifies everything we do—teaching, research, and partnerships—and inspires us to aim higher. With the dedication of our entire community, I am confident that together we are advancing Lehigh while shaping a better, more sustainable future.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Resolve; thank you, as always, for your interest in Lehigh Engineering!