Research Librarian - Library and Researcher Information Services

About the role

The Research Librarian supports researchers and affiliated staff by providing a range of specialized services, including literature searches, research consultations, grant support, data management, and bibliometric analysis, as well as expert guidance on library systems and resources. The position acts as a liaison to ULRI’s research institutes, offering discipline-specific expertise and oversight of specialized scientific collections.

Responsibilities

• Support interdisciplinary research spanning materials science, chemistry, and engineering, including literature searches, citation and patent analysis, and data discovery.
• Conduct complex literature searches across core chemistry and materials science databases (e.g., SciFinder, Reaxys, Web of Science, Dimensions) and advise on comprehensive review and discovery strategies.
• Advise users on effective search strategies, database selection, citation management tools, and research methodologies.
• Support all stages of the research lifecycle, including grant support, publication strategies, and research impact assessment.
• Create and maintain research guides (e.g., LibGuides), tutorials, and instructional materials to support user needs.
• Provide guidance on scholarly publishing, open access, copyright, and intellectual property.
• Support access to and effective use of specialized digital tools, including chemical structure searching, spectral databases, patent databases, and materials property resources.
• Partner with other members of the research team and the research manager to form a community of practice that develops cohesive, iterative, and repeatable processes for research support.

Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise with scientific research, data management, bibliometrics, and publication trends.
• Strong knowledge of chemistry and/or materials science information sources.
• Experience working in an academic or research library.
• Strong project management, initiative, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues and use evidence to analyze problems and provide solutions.
• Strong communication skills; written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to build trusted partnerships with researchers and stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a remote and distributed environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Academic background (degree or substantial coursework and research experience) in chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field.
• Minimum two years of experience post-master’s degree in delivering research services.