Riley Gibb has joined Purdue Polytechnic as the new director of the Office of Industry Engagement, bringing a background not just in higher education, but also in venture capital and startup incubation to the college's mission of connecting students and researchers with industry.
Gibb comes to the Polytechnic from the University of Indianapolis, where he served as assistant dean in the School of Business. However, his roots in the Purdue ecosystem run deep. He previously served as the director of collaborations for the Purdue Research Foundation and Purdue Ventures, where he helped startup companies secure capital, mentorship, and industry contacts.
He views his new role as a similar kind of matchmaking, though the currency is now talent and research rather than just funding.
"What we're looking for is just good quality in industry that's looking to partner with students, and with the research happening here," Gibb said. "That can look like sponsoring labs, it can look like internship opportunities for our students-there are really a lot of open options."
Gibb noted that successful industry engagement at a scientific institution is rarely a simple equation. "People want a formula for a successful partnership," he said. "But at an institution as big as Purdue, you have to be willing to keep opportunities and ideas even if they're a bit more open-ended."
Gibb aims to bridge the gap between companies seeking immediate talent and those looking for long-term research solutions. While some partners initially approach the college solely for recruitment, Gibb sees an opportunity to deepen those relationships into sponsored research and lab equipment donations.
"In an ideal world, we'll be able to mesh the two," Gibb said. "You've hired three or four of our students. They're doing a great job. What can we do next?"
The feedback loop between students looking for industry connections and the companies who need their talent is part of Purdue Polytechnic's ongoing story. It has turned into one of the most consistently productive outcomes of industry partnership.
"Purdue Polytechnic's motto is 'industry ready, day one,'" Gibb said. "The only way that we can do that is by having those relationships with industry. They can help inform our professors and help inform our researchers and our students about what's needed in the real world."
Gibb's experience spans the spectrum of business development, from lean startups looking for product-market fit to large corporations with established goals. He believes both types of partners have a place within Purdue Polytechnic's ecosystem, whether they are looking to solve a niche problem or drive a major workforce initiative.
Since technology changes rapidly (Gibb cited the explosion of AI over the last five years as a prime example) Gibb emphasized that the Office of Industry Partnerships must remain agile.
"It's just being adaptive and working with industry in finding out what those 'next things' are going to be," he said.
Additional information
