New Mexico Tech is pleased to welcome Michael Lehman, PhD, an internationally recognized neuroscientist and reproductive biologist, as the Regents Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Biology. He joined the university this week. 

Dr. Lehman brings nearly four decades of research, teaching, and academic leadership experience to New Mexico Tech. His work has made seminal contributions to understanding the neural mechanisms that regulate reproduction and circadian rhythms, advancing fundamental knowledge of how brain circuits integrate hormonal and environmental signals to control biological timing and fertility.

New Mexico Tech Interim President Dr. Michael Jackson said Dr. Lehman’s expertise and leadership will add a vital dimension to the biology department, enhance its offerings, and elevate an already exceptional student experience. 

“This is an exciting time for Dr. Lehman to join the Department of Biology at New Mexico Tech. Our robust biology and interdisciplinary biomedical science programs have a long history of preparing students for successful careers in science, engineering, and medicine. This is a direct result of our talented faculty and staff who provide an engaging, student-centered, education by integrating research and research-training experiences throughout the curriculum,” said Jackson.  

Dr. Steve Simpson, the dean of New Mexico Tech’s College of Arts and Sciences, said Lehman “brings a wealth of experience as a researcher, scholar, and mentor. He is joining a historically student-centered department. Under his leadership, I look forward to a supercharged biology department that continues undertaking cutting edge research and providing an exceptional experience for students."

Dr. Lehman has authored more than 195 peer-reviewed publications, including articles, reviews, and book chapters in leading scientific journals such as Science, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Journal of Neuroscience, and Endocrinology. He is listed among the top 2 percent of most-cited scientists worldwide by Elsevier and Stanford University, reflecting the sustained impact of his scholarship in neuroscience and endocrinology. His research program has received continuous support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other national funding agencies in the United States and Canada.

Before joining New Mexico Tech, Dr. Lehman served as inaugural director of the Brain Health Research Institute and professor of biological sciences at Kent State University. His prior academic appointments include faculty and leadership roles at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, University of Michigan, University of Western Ontario, and University of Cincinnati. He earned his bachelor’s in biology–psychology from Wesleyan University and his PhD in neuroscience from the University of Michigan.

In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Lehman is a prominent leader in the broader scientific community. He serves as editor-in-chief of the Fundamental and Mechanistic Neuroendocrinology strand of the Journal of Neuroendocrinology and as associate editor for Experimental Biology and Medicine. He is also a member of the Content Selection & Advisory Board of Scopus (Elsevier), the world’s largest database of scientific and scholarly literature.

Dr. Lehman is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Association of Anatomy (AAA), and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM). He currently serves as President of SEBM and President-Elect of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), a major voice for science advocacy and policy at a federal level. 

As Regents Endowed Professor and Chair, Dr. Lehman will provide strategic leadership for the Department of Biology, advancing New Mexico Tech’s strengths in research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student-centered education.

Dr. Michael Doyle previously served as chair of New Mexico Tech’s biology department. Dr. Simpson said the university thanks Dr. Doyle for his service to the department and to the university and wishes him well as he starts a new position as Associate Dean of Research at the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Dubuque.