B. Tech. Metallurgical Engineering, IIT, Bombay, 1967
M.S. Materials Engineering, Drexel University, 1969
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Tech University, 1980
Dr. Vedula is well recognized globally for his contributions to engineering education, research,
administration and outreach. He is internationally recognized for his research in processing and
properties of materials for high temperature applications, with particular emphasis on powder
processing and intermetallic compounds and environmental effects. He generated several millions
of dollars of research funding from a wide range of government and private agencies and
graduated 15 students with M.S. degrees and 10 students with Ph.D. degrees, while he was at Case
Western Reserve University and Iowa State University. He has more than 50 publications in
reputed journals.
As dean of engineering at University of Massachusetts, he has been recognized for his leadership
in building unique partnerships with business, K-12, state agencies and other educational
institutions. He was responsible for raising several millions of dollars for scholarships,
endowments and facilities from private sources and for overseeing a significant improvement in
the quality of students and faculty as well research and teaching facilities at the Francis College of
Engineering.
He is Founder and Executive Chair of “Massachusetts STEM (Science Technology Engineering
and Mathematics) Collaborative” aimed at increasing the number of youth interested in science
and engineering careers in MA. The Collaborative has been hailed throughout the State of
Massachusetts for bringing together leaders of business, higher education, K-12 and state
agencies to address this very critical need for the future of the Innovation Economy of
Massachusetts. The Collaborative was instrumental in obtaining several million dollars of private
and state funding and for implementing the Board of Higher Education Pipeline Grant Program
and establishing seven Regional PreK-16 Networks throughout the state.
More recently Prof. Vedula has been identifying, developing and championing innovative ways to
use technology to improve the content and delivery of engineering education in order to enhance
the quality of the engineering workforce of the future.
Dr. Vedula has been recognized for these accomplishments by his peers in many ways. He is a
Fellow of ASM International and has received several awards from Case Western Reserve
University, Iowa State University and University of Massachusetts for being an outstanding
engineering educator. He has been recognized state-wide by business and education leaders as
‘Workforce Development Leader (MTC)” in 2000, “Mass High Tech All Star” in 2001 and given
the “Indus Star Award” in 2002. He is appointed by the Governor to the Board of Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative and the Educational Technology Advisory Council. He has been a
Founding member of the Board of the Merrimack Valley Venture Forum. He has made keynote
presentations at several national and international conferences.
Dr. Vedula has B.Tech (IIT Bombay, India, 1967), M.S. (Drexel University, 1969) and Ph.D.
(Michigan Tech University, 1980) degrees in Materials/Metallurgical Engineering. He has 25
years academic teaching and research experience in materials science and engineering, including
10 years as a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University, 5 years as chair of the materials
science and engineering department at Iowa State University and 8 years as dean of an engineering
college at UMass Lowell. In addition he has spent 2 years managing federal research and
educational programs.