[LIBJOBS] Open Position: Science Data Librarian, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania USA

Science Data Librarian
The Pennsylvania State University Libraries

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek an innovative and enthusiastic librarian who is interested in providing informatics and data services across the science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields and who, together with their colleagues, will shape the future of library services in the STEM disciplines. This is a 12-month tenure-track position reporting to the Head of the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library.  The Prystowsky Early Career Endowment accompanies the position for an initial three year period (with possibility of renewal for an additional three years) for those candidates within the first 10 years of their academic career. Funds from the endowment will be available to the successful candidate to support their research, teaching, professional travel expenses and other needs.  

Successful candidates will benefit from the mentoring program developed by the University Libraries to support faculty in tenure-track appointments in fulfilling expectations in the areas of librarianship, research, and service.

Responsibilities: The Science Data Librarian will work collaboratively with their colleagues across the Libraries and in particular the other science libraries, centers, and institutes with the Eberly College of Science. For example, the Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Statistical Consulting Center, Center for AstroStatistics. A complete list can be viewed at http://science.psu.edu/research-resources/research-centers

• Informatics and Data Services: Provide leadership and direction around data access and management in the sciences; Deliver expert data information advice and guidance to researchers and collaborate on the creation a suite of information services.
• Liaison activities with assigned academic units: Develop collaborative partnerships with informatics researchers across disciplines, contributing expertise in information science and linked open data to research projects that leverage, mine and integrate bibliographic data and information systems.
• Teaching, learning, and literacies: Create educational support systems for informatics and contribute to the science informatics curriculum; Design, deliver, and assess library-instructions programs to educate and inform faculty and students on scholarly communication issues such as open-access initiatives and digital publishing; Develop instructional programs and learning materials in a variety of formats, using instructional-design principles.
• Reference and research: Provide reference assistance and research consulting for data access and management at all levels in person and in locations across Penn State.
• Collections content and access: Develop and manage collections to support research and curricular needs of informatics researchers across the University; Collaborate with librarians in related subject areas and libraries/departments.
• Research and Service:  Engage in research, scholarly publication, and professional service activities in areas appropriate to academic librarianship and the disciplines served.
  

Required Qualifications: Requires a Master of Library Science degree from an ALA-accredited institution (or equivalent); undergraduate degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) discipline; ability to work independently and collaboratively; potential to achieve the requirement for tenure and promotion in the areas of librarianship, research, and service; excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; and be in the first ten years of an academic library career. Please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/policies/ulhrg07.html to learn more about the University Libraries Promotion and Tenure Guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications: Advanced degree in a STEM discipline; certificate or equivalent in informatics; data curation experience, with a demonstrated understanding of issues and technical challenges, including format migration, preservation, metadata and data retrieval and use.

Environment: Penn State, a land-grant institution is a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), a consortium of the Big Ten universities plus the University of Chicago. Based on current Association for Research Libraries investment rankings, The Pennsylvania State University Libraries are ranked among the top ten research libraries in North America. A student survey completed in 2014 found overall student satisfaction with the University Libraries to be at the top of its category. The University Libraries hold membership in ARL, CRL, CLIR, and DLF. Collections exceed 5.8 million volumes and include more than 102,000 current serial subscriptions. The University Libraries are located at University Park and 22 other locations throughout Pennsylvania, and they serve approximately 6,000 faculty and 44,000 students at University Park, and more than 92,000 students system-wide.

The Eberly College of Science (science.psu.edu) at Penn State is home to more than 3200 undergraduates and 777 graduate students in eight departments and programs. Each of the departments in the College are ranked highly with several being ranked in the top ten among universities nationwide.

The University Park campus is set in the State College metropolitan area, a university town located in central Pennsylvania. State College offers a vibrant community with outstanding recreational facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools. The campus is within a half-day drive to Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, or Pittsburgh. The University Park Airport is served by three major carriers with flights to Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit. For more information, please visit http://www.libraries.psu.edu and http://www.cibcc.org.

Compensation: Rank and salary are dependent upon qualifications and experience.  Fringe benefits include liberal vacation, excellent insurance and health care coverage, state or TIAA/CREF retirement options, and educational privileges.  In addition, faculty in the University Libraries are afforded funds for professional development travel annually.  Faculty may be asked to travel as official representatives of the Libraries to certain events and those trips are reimbursed at full cost within limits established by the University.

Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted online at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/jobs/facjobs/sdl.html.  Interested candidates should upload a letter of application, resume or C.V., and the names and contact information of three professional references (including email addresses).   Please reference Box SDL-LIBJ in your letter of application.  Review of applications will begin November 21, 2014 and continue until position is filled.  Questions may be addressed to Lindsey Harter, Faculty Search Coordinator, at lap225@psu.edu.

Employment requires successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.   

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, disabled individuals, and other protected groups.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:  For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.