John P. Coulter
Phone: (610) 758-4503
Fax: (610) 758-6224

Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies

Appointed to Lehigh Faculty: 1990

Education:
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Delaware, 1988
M.S. Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Univ. of Delaware, 1985
B.S. Mechanical & Aerospace Engr., Univ. of Delaware, 1983

Related experience - teaching, industrial, etc.:
Research Engineer, Lord Corporation, Cary, NC, 1988-1990
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1989-1992
Senior Research Engineer, Lord Corporation, Cary, NC, 1990
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, 1990-1994
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, 1994-2001
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, 2001-present
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science, 2002-present

Research activities, consulting, patents, etc.:
Research on the fundamental issues related to material processing, manufacturing science, and intelligent manufacturing. This involves the study of novel processing methodologies, process modeling, product quality monitoring during processing, and knowledge based control for continuous process optimization. Technical engineering consultant to over ten companies. Inventor on two U.S. patents and one pending patent application.

Scientific and professional societies of which a member:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Society of Plastics Engineers
Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
American Society of Engineering Education
American Association of University Professors

Honors and awards:
Pi Tau Sigma Award for Excellence in Teaching at Lehigh University (1994, 1996)
ASME International University Curriculum Innovation Award (1996)
National Academy of Engineering's Frontiers of Engineering Symposium Participation Award (1998)
National Science Foundation Presidential Faculty Fellowship (PFF) Award Recipient (1993-98) Awarded by President Clinton and Vice-President Gore at the White House (Sept. 30, 1993)
Society of Plastics Engineers Future Technology Award (2000)
Elected into Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
ASME International 2001 Curriculum Innovation Award Honorable Mention (with H. Nied from Lehigh and L. Cirucci from Broughal Middle School)
ASME International Manufacturing Engineering Division Award for Industry-University Educational Partnerships in the New Millennium (2001)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Award for International Symposium Organization (2002)

Recent Ph.D. and M.S. Thesis and/or Projects Supervised:
(contact the department for a copy)
2007 - Aleksander Kolev Angelov, PhD Thesis, "Numerical and Experimental Studies in Development of Polymer Injection Micro Molding"
2007 - Gregory S. Layser, PhD Thesis, "An Investigation of Controlled Melt-Manipulation Based Dynamic Injection Molding Processes"
2007 - Alan Tom, PhD Thesis, "An Investigation of Micro-Scale Fabrication Using the Injection Molding Process"
2007 - Michale J. Wolbert, Jr., MS Thesis, "Technical Analysis of Adjustable Melt Rotation and Numerical Analysis of Polymer Flow Using CFD Software"
2006 - Kevin Takarada, MS Thesis, "An Experimental Investigation of Runner Based Flow Imbalances During Injection Modling Processes in Multicavity Molds"
2006 - Jessica Goodell, MS Thesis, "Investigation of Polymer Injection Molded Packages for Optoelectronic Applications"
2005 - Andrew Haglin, MS Thesis: "Development of an Expert System as Applied to Rapid Tooling Techniques for Injection Molding"
2005 - Akapot Tantrapiwat, MS Thesis: "The Development of a Pneumatic Stepping Motor Concept for Valve Based Flow Control During Injection Molding"
2004 - David C. Angstadt, PhD Thesis: "An Investigation of Active Melt Manipulation During Polymer Processing and Its Effects on Part Mechanical Properties"
2004 - Gregory S. Layser, MS Thesis: "Flow Control During Multi-Cavity Injection Modeling Processes"