Data and Immersive Visualization Librarian

Description

Michigan State University (MSU) Libraries seeks a creative, service-oriented professional to join the Digital Scholarship Lab as the Data and Immersive Visualization Librarian.

As a member of a team of professionals in the Digital Scholarship Lab, the Data and Immersive Visualization Librarian will be a key contributor to the MSU Libraries’ services and programs for data visualization, immersive technologies, and digital scholarship. Collaborating with colleagues across the Libraries, this position provides consultation services and designs programming that orient patrons to the transformative capabilities of data visualization tools and immersive technologies for teaching, learning, and research.

The Data and Immersive Visualization Librarian will contribute to rich, well-developed communities at MSU that are experimenting with data visualization tools, XR/AR/MR/VR, gaming, and other immersive technologies. The ideal candidate values collaboration, inclusivity, and community engagement in the design and implementation of services and programs that support data visualization and immersive technology services. In addition, they will bring expertise and a learning mindset that will shape a growing, dynamic digital scholarship and data services program at the MSU Libraries.

The MSU Libraries Digital Scholarship Lab offers cutting-edge technology, including a 360 immersive visualization room, a VR room, a high-powered computer lab, advanced digitization capabilities, and a faculty incubator space for collaborative research. Working closely with the Hollander MakeCentral, the Digital Scholarship Lab attracts faculty and students from all colleges within the university, hosts a variety of learning opportunities, and serves as an incubator for digital projects. The Lab engages scholars locally, regionally, and nationally, with plans for continued iteration and growth of our digital scholarship programming to meet emerging and evolving needs.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Design and implement programming that centers the creative and transformative potential of data visualization, immersive technologies, and XR in teaching, learning, and research.
• Support faculty, researchers, and students through consultation services on the design of curricula and research projects that leverage the affordances of data visualization and immersive technologies and methodologies, including XR.
• Design and lead trainings and workshops that support the creative use and critical understanding of data visualization and immersive technologies and software, including XR.
• Collaborate with the Data Services Librarian in the provisioning of research data management services and programs
• Collaborate with Transformative Technologies Coordinator to ensure that DSL software and hardware align with current and future pedagogical and research needs at MSU.
• Cultivate collegial, mutually beneficial relationships within the Libraries and across the university around research support, data visualization, and immersive technologies.
• Stay abreast of the most current developments, trends, and software to support data services and visualization, immersive technologies, and XR.
• Represent the Digital Scholarship Lab on groups and committees at MSU and within the Libraries that support the life cycle of digital projects.

MSU Librarians may have a quarter-time secondary assignment (position dependent) based on the needs of the library and candidate interests. 

We welcome candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply and will support their professional development to grow in this position.

Librarians are appointed as regular faculty in the continuing appointment system. Faculty are expected to independently apply judgment; have excellent oral and communication skills; and demonstrate attention to detail; flexibility; collegiality; the capacity for collaboration; and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in performance of their duties. As faculty, they develop a self-directed program of professional development and scholarly activities related to their position; and serve on library and university committees as elected or assigned.

The librarian will work to advance the initiatives in the MSU Strategic Plan and in the MSU Libraries Strategic Plan. In support of these initiatives, the Libraries serve as a center of activity and engagement on campus, with librarians empowered to support both student development and transformative research activities.

 The MSU Libraries Strategic Plan guides our current and future work. The candidate will partner with our diverse campus to grow our welcoming multicultural environment. More information on MSU and the MSU Libraries’ dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is available at: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/index.html.

 Michigan State University Libraries serve more than 4,900 faculty, 40,000 undergraduates, and 11,000 graduate and professional students on a park-like campus of over 5,000 acres. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in information or library science from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent accreditation from an international institution.
• Knowledge of data visualization software and methods and/or immersive technologies.
• Experience supporting the research lifecycle of digital projects.
• Experience with learning and teaching technologies associated with data visualization and immersive visualization.
• Preparation and commitment to conducting independent scholarship consistent with a library faculty appointment.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an intention to work in and foster a collaborative, respectful culture.
• Capacity and commitment to engage independently in continuing professional development.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience providing consultations, workshops, and programming on data visualization and analysis methodologies and tools 
• Knowledge of at least one commonly used data visualization software or language (e.g. Python, R, Flourish, Tableau)
• Experience with 3D object creation and manipulation of industry standard 3D applications (e.g. Blender, Maya) and/or gaming engine development (with Unity and/or Unreal)
• Experience with XR and its adoption in teaching and research
• Understanding of best practices for development of accessible data and/or immersive visualizations