Reproducibility Librarian

Description

This strategic position within the UT Libraries Research Support and Digital Initiatives division is intended to promote and provide support for reproducible research practices including open source software development to students, faculty, and staff through consultation, event coordination, and collaboration with the Open Source Program Office and other campus partners.

This is a fixed position with the possibility of continuation depending on funding; current end date is 7/2025.

Responsibilities

• Organizing workshop series and special events about research reproducibility, open science, and open source software in coordination with the UT-OSPO Training Team and UTL colleagues to ensure joint planning and promotion of instruction, management of instructors, and assessment of programming.

• Providing advising and consultation services in the areas of open source practices, research reproducibility, open science, and open source software licensing options (with support from the UTL Head of Scholarly Communications), to students, faculty, and staff.

• Developing materials and services that foster open source software development and enhance its relationship with other open science practices (e.g. FAIR Principles https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/).

• Outreach to campus projects and groups to determine and support their open source needs and connect them with available resources.  Facilitating the dissemination of institutional guidelines developed by the UT-OSPO, partnering with UTL and OSPO colleagues.

• Overseeing the review and curation of software and data contributed to the Texas Data Repository (TDR) and promoting use of the Texas Data Repository (TDR) for sharing of research software, data, workflows, and other outputs required for reproducibility.

• Participating as an active member on campus-level and broader groups, including the UT-OSPO Steering Committee, OSPO++, etc.

• Maintaining an awareness of current tools and methodologies for computationally-centered, data-driven research and reproducible research workflow development, and participating in and contributing to related professional activities.

• Other related functions as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Graduate degree in a data-intensive discipline, such as data science, information studies, or other field in which code is developed to support research.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in research or community support.

• Note: A bachelor’s degree and 6 years of relevant work experience may be substituted for the above two requirements.

• Ability to work in coordination with colleagues to develop plans for new services and resources related to open source software development and documentation, research reproducibility, and data management and data sharing best practices.

• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, manage, and assess projects.

• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, a professional, team-oriented attitude, and the ability to establish positive and productive working relationships with students, faculty, and staff.

• Familiarity with and enthusiasm for open source software development and contribution practices.

• Ability to communicate effectively, in person and in writing, including a demonstrated facility in conveying technical concepts to diverse audiences.

• Strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with open science and reproducible research practices.

• Experience with grant writing, implementation, and/or tracking data for reporting requirements.

• Experience or education involving at least one programming language.

• Experience using GitHub, GitLab, or a similar platform for managing and publishing software.

• Familiarity with containerization software like Docker.

• Demonstration of initiative in the completion of multiple simultaneous projects in a fast-paced, evolving work environment.

• A drive for continual learning and professional development.

Research indicates that applicants with marginalized identities are hesitant to apply for positions if they do not meet all of the qualifications. We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleague develop these preferred skills.