Posted on August 15, 2001 at 3:39 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Linda Lucas, Ph.D., professor and chair of the biomedical engineering department at UAB, has been named dean of UAB’s School of Engineering. Lucas has been interim dean since June of 2000.

“Dr. Lucas has been a driving force behind the growth of our biomedical engineering program, both in its research activities and its innovative classroom experiences,” said Arol Augsburger, interim UAB provost. “As dean, she brings that energy and innovation to work for the entire school.”

Lucas replaces Steven Szygenda, Ph.D., who accepted the position of dean of engineering at Southern Methodist University.

Lucas joined the UAB faculty in 1982 as an assistant professor, rising to associate professor in 1985 and professor in 1993. She was named department chair in 1996. She also is the director of UAB’s Biomedical Implant Center. She holds joint appointments with the Injury Control Center, the Department of Materials and Mechanical Engineering and two departments within the School of Dentistry.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and chemistry from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from UAB. She has master’s degrees in mathematics, education and materials engineering from UAB. She earned her doctorate from UAB in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in biomaterials.

Lucas has been involved in the characterization and development of biomaterials for medical applications for the past 20 years. Her work has focused on materials for orthopedic, dental and cardiovascular devices. Results of her studies have been published in more than 90 publications, and she has made more than 250 presentations at regional, national and international scientific meetings.

Lucas is a past-president of the Society for Biomaterials and president-elect of the Biomedical Engineering Society. She is a Fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineers and an International Fellow of the Society for Biomaterials.