Department/Organization
219101 - University Libraries

Rank
Assistant/Associate Professor

Position Summary
The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a creative and highly motivated individual to join the Research Computing Services team as the Data Science Librarian. Reporting to the Director of Research Computing Services, this position supports students, faculty, and researchers with computational research methods, primarily in the sciences, while also supporting data practices and literacies across a variety of disciplines.

Detailed Position Information
The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a creative and highly motivated individual to join the Research Computing Services team as the Data Science Librarian. Reporting to the Director of Research Computing Services, this position supports students, faculty, and researchers with computational research methods, primarily in the sciences, while also supporting data practices and literacies across a variety of disciplines.

The Data Science Librarian provides consultations, instruction, outreach, and support for collaborative initiatives related to computing throughout various phases of research and learning. With a focus on scientific computing programming languages such as Python, R, Bash, C++, and similar languages, this librarian will expand the University Libraries instructional and program offerings to include introductory content on computational analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, parallel computing, GPU computing, cloud computing, high-performance computing, and other related topics. Moreover, the Data Science Librarian will support the development of data science and computing literacies among library users, particularly for research using quantitative data or requiring specialized data processing.

Responsibilities may also include assisting in the oversight of student developers who provide library computing services such as workshops, walk-in coding support, and developing custom scripting for research computing teaching and research projects. The Data Science Librarian will help develop use-cases and student developer projects that support research computing and data science across the disciplines.

This position will contribute to and maintain research computing and data related open educational resources (OERs) such as the University Libraries Scholarly API Cookbook, as well as develop additional content related to introductory computing topics such as machine learning, informatics, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence in research, teaching, and librarianship applications. The Data Science Librarian will prepare regular reports on research computing and data activities for the Director of Research Computing.

Moreover, the Data Science Librarian will serve as the subject area liaison to the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Computer Science. Liaisons support both in-person and virtual instruction, reference, and outreach in assigned areas, and will be expected to collaborate with teaching faculty on library assignments and actively create digital learning objects in support of teaching and research.

This position collaborates with a broad range of stakeholders internally and externally. The candidate is expected to maintain and build relationships in the University Libraries and with colleges and universities in the region, state, and nationally. The person in this position will be encouraged to pursue grant writing opportunities and submission of projects relevant to the mission of University Libraries and The University of Alabama. The candidate must be able to foster collaboration and develop and empower librarians and staff. The successful candidate must possess the ability to approach change, ambiguity, and complex problems that are typical of a research university setting.

Responsibilities of the position may change as University Libraries continues to evolve.

SALARY/BENEFITS: 12-month tenure track faculty appointment at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank. Salary is $100,000.00 - $120,000.00, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions.

Minimum Qualifications
• Master's in Library & Information Sciences from an ALA-accredited institution or a doctoral degree in a relevant field.
• Experience with quantitative research software/methods and programming languages for data cleaning, remediation, analysis, and visualization.
• Experience with one or more scientific computing programming languages, such as Python, R, Julia, Swift/CoreML, C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Wolfram, MATLAB, or Rust.
• Experience using computational notebooks such as Jupyter, Mathematica, Apache Spark, Livebook, or Org-mode.
• Familiarity with research computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning topics.
• Experience using AI models such as OpenAI, Google AI, Microsoft AI, Mistral AI, or Apple Intelligence.
• Interest in serving as a subject area expert in assigned liaison areas.
• Demonstrated proficiency in statistical methods.
• Demonstrated understanding of the research lifecycle.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across various mediums.
• Ability to learn and apply new technical skills and tools through self-directed learning.
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, and ability to work creatively and effectively both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Familiarity with common data science formats (e.g., JSON, SQL, XML, CSV, etc.).
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills evidenced by the ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, faculty, students, and staff.
• Friendly, approachable, demeanor with strong commitment to customer service excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex and changing environment; proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively and complete tasks according to an established timeframe, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Evidence of ability to engage in research, publication, and service consistent with the University’s and Libraries’ guidelines for faculty promotion and tenure.

Preferred Qualifications
• Graduate degree in a STEM, quantitative social sciences, or related data science field. • Understanding of grant and award funding agencies’ requirements regarding data management, preservation, and access. • Experience using Linux • Experience with GPU or parallel computing • Experience with computational approaches for data cleaning, remediation, analysis, and visualization (R, Python, SQL, SPARQL). • Demonstrated understanding of the data and research lifecycles and discipline practices for researchers working with data. • Experience working with machine learning libraries and algorithms. • Experience with large language models or natural language processing. • Experience working with high performance computing (HPC). • Experience working with interdisciplinary groups and research projects. • Experience serving as a science subject area liaison. • Experience in developing and delivering data or computational related workshops to classes and groups. • Experience submitting grant proposals. • Evidence of an active published research portfolio.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Applications are accepted online only at https://careers.ua.edu. Click Faculty Jobs, then University Libraries. Please include your application, Curriculum Vitae, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e- mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Applications received by January 16, 2025, are assured of receiving full consideration. For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at maarthur@ua.edu.

About the Division/College/School
The University of Alabama Libraries, a system of four separate discipline-related libraries, is proud to support the research enterprise at the University of Alabama via a comprehensive and integrated network of resources, services, and technologies designed to meet the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. We take pride in serving as a hub for innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination, research assistance, and collaborative learning.

Members of the University of Alabama family visited our physical and virtual spaces over 10 million times in 2022. Our print collections span over 6 million volumes, and we offer access to 2.5 million E-Books, 220,000 AV titles, and 98,000 E-Journals via our 685 databases.

University Libraries provides strong mentorship for faculty and staff, with ongoing collaborative opportunities, and administrative support for innovative services and ideas. We provide excellent support for needed technology and conference travel, and we are invested in academic freedom with teaching and research.

Our staff routinely update and maintain cutting edge programs of service in support of our stakeholders. Our faculty librarians have developed a robust instruction program, including a series of research data services and workshops, that consistently performs at the top of the SEC. We are heavily invested in performing the same high value research that our stakeholders produce, and that assists us in our data-driven strategic planning for the future. Our librarians have produced 75 peer reviewed journal articles in Tier 1 journals in the last 2 years.

If working with a talented group of professionals who value service, innovation, and high achievement, earning a nationally competitive starting salary, in a thriving college town, with a low cost of living, close to Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast sounds interesting to you, start your application process with us to learn more!

About the University
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf