Neil Knobloch
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Courtesy Appointment
Science Education,
Curriculum and Instruction
Email:
nknobloc@purdue.edu
Phone:
765-494-1120
Address:
225 S. State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
Links:
LinkedInResearchGate BoilerSteam National LCT Partnership
About
My purpose is driven by a passion to empower people to solve complex problems. My career journey started teaching middle and high school students. After facing many complex challenges, I transitioned and pursued a doctorate degree focused on the intersection of educational psychology and educational administration to facilitate career readiness experiences for high school and college students. After preparing preservice teachers for licensure, I focused on educational innovations through learner-centered teaching and mentoring, interdisciplinary STEM education, and interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships to advance workforce education. I teach courses on theories of learning and development, human-centered research design, integrated STEM education, and preparing faculty and doctoral students to be learner-centered teachers.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, 2002, Major: Human and Community Resource Development, Agricultural Education; Specialty: Instructional Leadership
- Master of Science, Iowa State University, 1997, Major: Agricultural Education
- Bachelor of Science, Iowa State University, 1992, Double Major: Agricultural Education and Agricultural Extension Education
Career Experience
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2026 to present
Professor of Agricultural STEM Education, 2017 to 2026
Associate Professor of Agricultural STEM Education, 2009 to 2017
Assistant Professor of Agricultural STEM Education, 2007 to 2009
Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication (2007-2026) & Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University (2026 to present)
Assistant Professor of Experiential, Career and Outreach Education, Department of Human and Community Development, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2002 to 2007
Lecturer of Agricultural and Extension Education, Department of Human and Community Resource Development, Ohio State University, 1999 to 2002
Instructor of Agriscience and Agribusiness, Mid-Prairie Community Schools, Wellman, Iowa, 1992 to 1999
Awards & Honors
Outstanding Teaching Award, American Association for Agricultural Education, 2026
Senior Fellow, Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education, 2026
People’s Choice: 30-minute Professional Development Session, AIAEE, 2026
Christian Foster K-12 STEM Engagement Award, Purdue University, 2025
Graduate Advisor of Outstanding Graduate Thesis, American Association for Agricultural Education, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2026
Outstanding Agricultural Educator, NC-AAAE, 2023
Senior Fellow, American Association for Agricultural Education, 2022
Professional Affiliations/Memberships
American Education Research Association
American Association for Agricultural Education
Association of International Agricultural and Extension Education
North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
Research & Publications
My research focuses on how people learn in agricultural and STEM rich environments, with a particular emphasis on motivation, identity development, and integrated STEM pedagogy. My scholarship positions agriculture, food and natural resources (AFNR) as an authentic context for STEM learning and helps students connect scientific and technical concepts to the food system. Through evidence-based approaches for integrated STEM, I help educators design learning environments that are more engaging, accessible, and relevant through two research foci: (1) Advancing integrated STEM education through workforce-relevant contexts, and (2) motivating students through engaging learning experiences.
Selected Publications
Wang, H. H., & Knobloch, N. A. (2023). K-12 Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices in STEM Integration. In R. J. Tierney, F. Rizvi, F. & K. Erkican. (Eds.) International Encyclopedia of Education (Vol. 11). Elsevier. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818630-5.13070-2
Charoenmuang, M., Knobloch, N. A., & Wang, H. H. (2024). Localized land-grant partnership for STEM integration through AFNR: High school teachers’ experiences. Journal of Agricultural Education, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v65i3.2462
Thies, S. L. J., Knobloch, N. A., Nelson, B. J., & Wang. H. H. (2024). High school students’ motivation regarding an integrated STEM food system project. NACTA Journal, 68, 107-118.
Azzarello, C. B., Vincent, S., Manzanares, A., Anderson, S., Romulo, C., Druckenbrod, D., & Knobloch, N. (2025). Transdisciplinary orientation scale scores as an indicator of undergraduate environmental course capacities development. Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education, 21(4), e2517. https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/16900
Knobloch, N. A., & Wang, H. H. (2024). Integrated STEM in school-based agricultural education. In R. K. Barrick & A. C. Thoron (Eds.)., Emerging Research in Agricultural Teacher Education (pp. 227-248). IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-2766-1.ch012
Charoenmuang, M. Knobloch, N. A. & Scherer, H. H. (2025). High-school students’ demonstration of systems thinking in the context of sustainable food systems. Food, Culture & Society, 28(5), 1151-1169. https://doi.org//10.1080/15528014.2023.2301249
Wang, H. H., Knobloch, N. A., Nelson, B. J., Thies, L. J. (2025). Exploring interdisciplinary pedagogical content knowledge in teaching energy by using food systems. Education Sciences, 15(3), 318. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15030318
Knobloch, N. A., Eck, C. J., McKim, A. J, & Wang, H. H. (2026). A systems thinking approach to integrated STEM in school-based agricultural education. Special Issue on STEM Synergy: Advancing Integrated Approaches in Education, Education Sciences, 16(2), 253. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16020253
Ntaganzwa, O., Knobloch, N. A., Wang, H.-H., & Radhakrishna, R. (2026). Predicting High School Students’ Situated Expectancy-Value Motivation Regarding Food System STEM Projects. Journal of Agricultural Education, 67(3), Article 2. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v67i3.3213
Wang, H.H., Jagbojo, O. O., Ogar, E. E., & Knobloch, N. A. (2026). Developing Teacher Identity Through the Design and Implementation of an Urban Ag+STEM Pathway. Journal of Agricultural Education, 67(3), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.v67i3.3318
Current Grants & Funded Research
McGowan, O., Maytubby, E., & Knobloch, N. An Integrated Model for Teaching Excellence: Learner-Centered Education in Agriculture through Culturally Relevant eNgagement (LEARN) Partnership. NIFA 1890 Capacity Building Grant. April 1, 2023 to March 30, 2026. Funded, $600,000.
Knobloch, N. A., Bello-Bravo, J., Brady, C., Karcher, E., LaRose, S., Pfeiffer, L., Russell, M., Tormoehlen, R., & Wang, H. Increasing K-20 Student and Public Engagement through Intercultural and Digital Capacity-building in Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. USDA NIFA Hatch Project. October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2028. Funded.
Knobloch, N. A., Ware, J., & Wang, H. H., Interdisciplinary iNcubation STEM design challenges through community Engagement with academic and industry Professionals (IN-STEP). NSF ITEST – Developing and Testing Innovations (DTI). September 15, 2025 to September 14, 2028. Funded, $1,300,000.
Wang, H. H., Knobloch, N. A., & Nemali, K. Building Agriculture Teachers’ Network through Empowering Food Entrepreneurship. NIFA Professional Development for Agricultural Literacy. May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2028. Funded, $500,000
Courses Typically Taught
AETM 42100: Senior Seminar
ABE 59100: Human-Centered Research Design
ABE 59100: Teaching College STEM