Blue Sky Lab Staff

Director: Dr. Emily Allen

Dr. Emily Allen is the founding Director of the Blue Sky Teaching and Learning Laboratory, a new Honors College initiative launching in 2021-2022. The Blue Sky Lab (BSL) will focus on translating and scaling high-impact pedagogies incubated in the Honors College and in connecting the HC outward to other educational institutions and communities. This new laboratory for teaching practice and research takes to the skies with “visionary pedagogy for a better world” starting Fall 2021.

From 2012-2021, Professor Allen served as the Honors College’s first Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in which position she oversaw the development of the college’s interdisciplinary courses, curriculum, and faculty; contributed to imagining its co-curricular structures; and helped set the vision and goals of Purdue’s first academic-residential college. She is particularly proud of having created the innovative structure of the college’s first-year seminar “Evolution of Ideas” and its attached mentor course, which was designed through Purdue’s groundbreaking IMPACT and now stands as a model for new and other programs. Read more about Dr. Allen.

Open Positions with Blue Sky Lab

Assistant Director and Assistant Clinical Professor

The John Martinson Honors College seeks to appoint the Assistant Director of Blue Sky Lab, a new center for the development of interdisciplinary, inclusive, and collaborative honors pedagogy. Specialty open; candidates must demonstrate interdisciplinary range, experience with innovative pedagogy and public engagement, administrative capability, and commitment to working with a diverse student population. Ph.D. required. 1-1 teaching load plus strong emphasis on program development. Duties will include planning and implementing SOTL research projects; grant writing; and leading summer institutes and the new Public Powered Research initiative.
The three-year appointment begins August 2022. 10-month position. Salary based on education and experience.

Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in any field is required, as is demonstrated teaching excellence and experience in leading project based courses and engaged research.

The College: The John Martinson Honors College is Purdue’s interdisciplinary college that serves highly motivated undergraduate students from every disciplinary school in the university. It is an academic-residential environment, grounded in four pillars: interdisciplinary academics, undergraduate research, global and community engagement, and leadership development. The college has over 2,700 undergraduate students, who, in addition to their major, complete a curriculum that helps them achieve these aims. Faculty and staff have a high degree of interaction with students and develop programming to support the curricular aims of the Honors College. The Honors College has a long-standing commitment to diversity and is driven by the belief that diversity supports and enhances every aspect of the educational experience.

Application:
To apply, please visit https://careers.purdue.edu. Applications must include: 1) Curriculum Vitae, 2) cover letter of interest, 3) diversity and inclusion statement, and 4) contact information for three references.
Purdue University’s John Martinson Honors College is committed to advancing diversity in all areas of faculty effort, including scholarship, instruction, and engagement. Candidates should address at least one of these areas in a separate Diversity and Inclusion Statement, indicating their past experiences, current interests or activities, and/or future goals to promote a climate that values diversity and inclusion. Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. A background check is required for employment in this position. For additional information, contact Dr. Emily Allen, Blue Sky Lab, John Martinson Honors College at elallen@purdue.edu.

Postdoctoral Fellow

The John Martinson Honors College seeks an innovative teacher-researcher to join Blue Sky Lab, a new center for the development of interdisciplinary, inclusive, and collaborative honors pedagogy. Specialty open; candidates must demonstrate interdisciplinary range and experience with innovative pedagogy. Ph.D. required and public engagement experience preferred. 1-1 teaching load plus strong emphasis on program development. Duties include working with Blue Sky team to develop SOTL research, community engagement coursework, and summer institutes for community college students. Applicants should demonstrate commitment to working with a diverse student population.
The two-year appointment begins August 2022. 10-month position. Salary based on education and
experience.

Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in any field is required, as is demonstrated teaching excellence. Experience in leading project based courses and engaged research is a plus.

Application:
To apply, please visit https://careers.purdue.edu. Please send: (1) a letter of application detailing disciplinary training and research and how you can contribute to an interdisciplinary SOTL center; (2) a C.V.; (3) a dossier with three letters of reference. Questions about this search should be addressed to Dr. Emily Allen, Director of Blue Sky Lab, at elallen@purdue.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately. A background check will be required for employment in this position.