1.13.17 –  Research Librarian for Research Data (Temp)
University Library of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

Application deadline: 15/01/2017

A temporary one-year post-doctoral position as a research librarian with tasks related to research data is available at the University Library of Southern Denmark, SDU in Odense.

A new role for research libraries to support more directly the research lifecycle of scientific data is emerging. On the one hand, governments and funding bodies increasingly require that research should be accessible beyond the life time of funded projects. Examples are found in requirements for data management planning, Open Science and guidelines for responsible conduct of research: The raison d’être is that well-managed research data is fundamental for discovery and access to research resources.

On the other hand, in the digital age, large research and university libraries also collect big transactions data thereby providing both a basis for complex analyses focused on library applications, as well as an opportunity to utilize such data for research into several different scholarly disciplines. Additionally, such large libraries can be perceived as living lab testbeds for students, researchers and the public, and as an integral part of smart campuses within smart cities.

The University Library of Southern Denmark provides a range of services to assist academic staff and postgraduate researchers to retrieve and manage research resources. Development of support services and training of staff in the area of data management is a high priority of the library and includes data management planning, data sharing, curation, citing and searching.

Job content

In general, in this position you will participate in data management related to externally funded projects and assist researchers in describing, storing and sharing research metadata and research datasets, as well as assisting in developing relevant library support services relating to data management in cooperation with SDU.

In particular, you will be assigned to smart library big data, working in close collaboration with both data providers at University Library of Southern Denmark – as well as with smart city research groups at SDU, and at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in the context of the Danish e-Infrastructure Cooperation (DeIC) funded two-year project “Science Cloud for Smart Cities”. Additionally, you will network with external partners at municipalities and other libraries.

More specifically, your tasks will include:

Managing a smart library Open Data case in the context of the “Science Cloud for Smart Cities” DeIC project. The case includes direct data management and working with ORCID, NextCloud, DataCite and CERN’s Zenodo – co-working with the CITIES cloud development team.

Data management of library data at the University Library of Southern Denmark, including the identification, mapping, collecting, describing, storage and dissemination of such data.

Carrying out research into library big data, transactions data and smart libraries together with colleagues at the library’s research department and SDU’s research groups at e.g. The Mads Clausen Institute and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute.

Performing and participating in outreach e.g. by hosting workshops and training events at SDU’s campuses.

Criteria

Applicants must uphold a relevant degree e.g. within technical or natural sciences.

Required skills:

Research experience through postgraduate qualifications and/or extensive relevant experience.
Experience in collecting, handling, processing and analyzing complex digital data.
A sound understanding of the requirements for information management throughout the research lifecycle, including scholarly communication and research data.
Knowledge of practices with respect to data collection, management and use.
Effective analytical, problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with statistical and analyses software.
As for personal skills, we value collaboration, empathy, curiosity and flexibility.

Place of work

Department of Research and Analyses, University Library of Southern Denmark
SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark.

The position is a temporary full time position and is limited to one full year with possibility of extension.

Salary and conditions of employment

Staff are appointed in accordance with the current agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).

Working hours are 37 hours per week.

Place of employment is Campus Odense, but some travel will be required to all of the university’s campuses.

Further information

For further information about the position, please contact Library Director Bertil F. Dorch on tel. +45 65 50 26 83.

The University invites all interested candidates to apply irrespective of age, gender, religion or ethnicity.

Expected start date: At the earliest convenience 2017.

Applications in English or Danish will be accepted.

The University Library of Southern Denmark is a large public research library that primarily

works to serve the University of Southern Denmark, SDU. The library employs 110 librarians, information specialist, research librarians etc. in Esbjerg, Kolding, Odense, Slagelse, Sønderborg and Copenhagen. The library provides access to 1.6 million printed volumes and more than 100.000 electronic journals, over half a million e-books and a large number of online databases. We yearly serve about 400.000 visitors in the library.

The library is part of SDU’s Central Administration consisting of administrative and service units supporting the academic environments at the University of Southern Denmark.