Registration open for Sept. 3 Westwood Lecture on workforce development research in the defense sector

Registration is open for faculty to attend the Westwood Lecture Series on Sept. 3.

Jennifer S. Linvill, an assistant professor of technology leadership and innovation in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, will present “Scaling Up: Preparing a career-ready defense microelectronics engineering workforce through needs assessments” from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Westwood, the Purdue president’s residence.

The Westwood Lecture Series is an opportunity for Purdue faculty and those staff members engaged in the research topic to interact with colleagues on scholarly work. The program is aimed at enhancing the intellectual vibrancy of the Purdue West Lafayette campus.

Space is limited to the first 50 faculty who register online.

“Scaling Up: Preparing a career-ready defense microelectronics engineering workforce through needs assessments”

Jennifer S. Linvill

Assistant professor of technology leadership and innovation

Purdue Polytechnic Institute

Abstract. Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement (SCALE) is the nation’s preeminent program for developing a next-generation microelectronics engineering workforce. It focuses on developing a scalable and sustainable workforce development program for microelectronics engineering that will serve to ensure U.S. national security and bolster the U.S. economy. In this lecture, Linvill will discuss her research on workforce development, including needs assessments of technical skills and comprehensive needs in the microelectronics engineering field, with examples from a specific project on the field of radiation hardening. This work informs SCALE stakeholders about the current and future projected state of the radiation hardening workforce, including anticipated growth rate of the workforce and skills needed for success in the field. She serves as a co-principal investigator on the SCALEproduction team to inform engineering stakeholders in the public, private and academic sectors and strengthen national defense by producing career-ready graduates.

Bio. Jennifer S. Linvill is an assistant professor of technology leadership and innovation at Purdue’s Polytechnic Institute and a co-principal investigator on the SCALE production proposal, funded by the Department of Defense. Her research focuses on workforce development through the lens of the changing nature of work and is strategically designed to address organizational challenges by providing novel solutions through an interdisciplinary approach.

Linvill earned a PhD and master’s degree in organizational communication and a bachelor’s degree in law and society from Purdue University. She received the John P. Lisack Early-Career Engagement Award and is a two-time winner of the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation’s Outstanding Faculty in Discovery Award. In the spring, Linvill received a SCALE recognition award funded by the U.S. Department of Defense for contributions to the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement Program and nanoHUB.

Upcoming fall 2024 Westwood Lecture Series events

Oct. 28: Jan Cover, a professor of philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts, will discuss puzzles of portraiture. Cover’s research interests include early modern philosophy and metaphysics, as well as the philosophy of art, science and religion.

Nov. 7: Louis Tay, the William C. Byham Chair in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in the College of Health and Human Sciences, will discuss assessing the happiness of societies. Tay’s research seeks to understand how to assess and enhance human well-being using innovative methodological and technological approaches.

Dec. 5: Mohit Tawarmalani, the executive associate dean of faculty and Allison and Nancy Schleicher Chair in Management in the Mitch Daniels School of Business, will discuss optimization beyond convexity: applications in process design, networking and pricing. Tawarmalani’s research interests are at the interface of computer science, optimization and operations research with applications in business and engineering.