The IU LAB Academic Gateway task force is composed of an interdisciplinary group of faculty across schools and campuses to ensure that a wide array of perspectives and insights is shared. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana UniversityA faculty task force is working to identify and develop courses, programming and experiential learning opportunities for students and professional learners at the IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences at 16 Tech.

IU LAB is a first-of-its-kind academic-industry initiative that will lead to significant advances in human health, while helping make Indiana a global leader in bioscience innovation. It will drive advancements and commercialization in bioscience and help grow the bioscience workforce in Indiana.

One of its key components is the Academic Gateway, which will host new degree programs, introductory and advanced courses, and credentialing for in-demand subjects. The programming will be geared toward students and current professionals seeking new skills through a series of flexible, active-learning-oriented learning spaces.

The task force's April 17 workshop kicked off with a fireside chat from MBX Biosciences President and CEO Kent Hawryluk, a graduate of the IU School of Science in Indianapolis. He offered industry insights about university-biotech partnerships, the qualities he looks for in hires, and how initiatives like the IU LAB Academic Gateway can bridge gaps in bioscience talent from diverse academic backgrounds. Photo provided by IU LABThe task force is composed of 14 faculty members from IU Indianapolis and IU Bloomington who represent various schools and disciplines. They will focus on identifying introductory and advanced courses for future STEM students; finding opportunities to add an experiential learning experience to existing courses; offering bioscience and business workforce training for industry and community members; taking a multidisciplinary approach to enforce dynamic, cross-sector learning, with topics such as artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship; and identifying exploratory programming to inspire middle and high school students.

“We are so excited to bring together this group of IU faculty to help us think about the many ways IU LAB’s Academic Gateway can benefit students, community and industry partners,” IU LAB President and CEO David Rosenberg said. “Task force members are being asked to collaborate with colleagues in and outside of their schools to help design courses and programs so that we can get a wealth of ideas from across the university to ensure the Academic Gateway is meeting the most critical needs.”

Following the task force’s first meeting on March 27, members have led discussions with colleagues and leadership throughout their schools to develop a list of credit-bearing and non-credit experiences that could be offered at IU LAB. They presented these ideas during a workshop on April 17 and will continue their work in the next academic year.

During the April 17 workshop at 16 Tech, the task force discussed hands-on, experiential learning opportunities; and a shared commitment to fostering “creative collisions” where students and industry learn side-by-side, especially in emerging areas such as AI and entrepreneurship. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana University

Meet the IU LAB Academic Gateway Task Force:

• Kyle Anderson is a clinical assistant professor of business economics, faculty chair of the evening MBA program and assistant dean for academic programs at the Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis.
• Rafael Bahamonde is the founding dean and professor in the School of Health & Human Sciences in Indianapolis.
• Partha Basu is the department chair and professor of chemistry in the School of Science in Indianapolis.
• Davide Bolchini is the executive associate dean and professor of human-centered computing in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering in Indianapolis.
• Dave Bollivar is a senior lecturer of biology and the director of the biotechnology master’s degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences in Bloomington.
• Heather Bradshaw is a professor of psychological and brain sciences and director of the program in neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Nicholas Brehl is the director of the health professions programs, assistant professor of clinical pathology and laboratory medicine, the Diane S. Leland Scholar in Clinical Laboratory Medicine, and division chief in the IU School of Medicine.
• Sarath Janga is an associate professor of biomedical engineering and informatics in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering in Indianapolis.
• Donald F. Kuratko is the Jack M. Gill Chair of Entrepreneurship, professor of entrepreneurship, executive and academic director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and director of the Entrepreneurial Innovation Academy in the Kelley School of Business at IU Bloomington.
• Jon Macy is the assistant dean for academic programs and professor in the School of Public Health-Bloomington.
• James McGookey is the director of learning spaces for University Information Technology Services.
• Irene Newton is a professor of biology and microbiology section associate chair of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Jennelle Richardson is an assistant professor of clinical pharmacology and toxicology in the IU School of Medicine.
• Steven Tait is a professor and department chair of chemistry, adjunct professor of physics and associate director of the IU Electron Microscopy Center in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Kelsey Cook is deputy director for research communication for the Office of the Vice President for Communications and Marketing.