Career Center

The Computational Research Instruction Librarian, an integral part of the Columbia University Libraries' Digital Scholarship Services unit, oversees the libraries' computational research education program, including (but not limited to) serving as the program administrator for the Foundations for Research Computing (FoRC) program and associated programs such as the Python User Group.  

The Computational Research Instruction Librarian works with faculty and campus partners such as Columbia University Information Technology (CUIT), Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR), and Columbia University Libraries (CUL) colleagues to assess the evolving instruction needs in support of computational sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the administrative and instructional matters related to the FoRC program.  This includes recruitment and oversight of Student Employees and Volunteers and coordination with CUIT & CUL staff instructors.

• Coordinate with partners in CUIT, EVPR, and the Libraries to promote workshops offered by campus partners on topics related to data science, high-performance computing, and computational research

• Serve as Columbia's representative on the membership council of The Carpentries, an organizational partner in training researchers in computational skills.

•  Oversee and build the community of trained Software Carpentry instructors to plan and facilitate workshops, boot camps, and additional training opportunities at the novice and intermediate levels.

• Oversee the management of community-facing and FoRC related support programs such as the Python User Group. 

• Engage with faculty and administrators for input into program assessment and development.

• Maintain active participation in the field, keeping abreast of evolving practices in computational research methods and education.

About Columbia University Libraries

We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, identities, and abilities to apply for this unique opportunity to become a part of our evolving Libraries and University community. Columbia University Libraries is a globally-recognized academic research library system, serving one of the world's most important centers of research and learning in the most exciting and dynamic city in the world. Talented Libraries staff build, sustain, and make discoverable collections that transcend traditional boundaries of format and domain, keeping pace with a dynamic and rapidly evolving information environment and creating opportunities for users to encounter 4,000 years of human thought.

Our decisions are informed by new curricula developed to meet the needs of a more diverse student body, new and emerging areas of research being conducted by a broad spectrum of researchers, including graduate students and newly-hired faculty, as well as by perspectives from the diminished or entirely lost voices of historically oppressed, marginalized, and underserved populations and communities. As an organization, the Libraries provides a supportive, connected environment where every employee's perspective is valued and every employee is encouraged to grow. All staff members have an impact on Columbia's mission to advance knowledge at the highest levels and make the results of research accessible to the world.

Columbia University has a longstanding commitment to diversity rooted in values of inclusion and social justice, a commitment reflected in the curriculum and throughout University life. Columbia welcomes applications from candidates who share these values and who will foster their contribution to the University's educational mission. We invite applicants who have demonstrated creative approaches to empowering and mentoring staff, leading projects, solving problems, and developing user-centric programs, services, or collections. We offer salary and benefits commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Search Committee will review applications and nominations and will continue to receive and review them until the position is filled. Proposed start date is negotiable. 

Minimum Degree Required

• Master's of Library Science (or equivalent), an advanced degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., computer science, data science, analytics, statistics), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in planning training sessions or other community engagements in an academic or related environment.

• Prior experience in computation and/or a highly-quantitative discipline.

• Excellent organizational, verbal/written communication, and interpersonal skills; must be customer service-oriented, a team player, and a self-starter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with high-performance computing systems and the research tools commonly deployed.

• Knowledge of programming languages such as Python, R, and Matlab, used in introductory computational literacy instruction.

• Understanding current issues, trends, and approaches supporting computational literacy in higher education.

• Strong project-management skills with demonstrated ability to work independently, track and manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.

• Experience with instructional design.

Salary Range:  $74,030-$84,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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