"AI Research Librarian"

Position Overview

The University of California, Riverside Library seeks two dynamic and highly-skilled AI Research Librarians to join its cutting-edge Research Services team, focusing on supporting faculty and students across all disciplines in integrating AI tools and new 21st century research methodologies into academic research ecosystems and processes. These positions will serve as leaders in the evolving landscape of new technology-enabled research in academic libraries, focusing on the intersection of AI, data, and scholarly research. This includes emerging and new methodologies such as systematic and synthetic reviews and AI Deep Research'. The librarians will guide faculty and students in utilizing AI research tools ranging from workshopping deep meta-analysis to synthetic research, including evidence synthesis and systematic research techniques, across disciplines including STEM, Social Sciences, and Humanities. While candidates will support all disciplines, they may develop particular focus areas based on their expertise and departmental needs. The successful candidates will also play a critical role in supporting the data research lifecycle, contributing to the development of a robust scholarly research digital ecosystem. These roles will work closely with the AULs and Directors, a team of AI/Data scientists and other librarians and staff , including those involved in GIS, Robotics, Makerspace Labs, the Teaching and Learning department and specialized subject librarians. The ideal candidates will demonstrate strong willingness to pursue continuous learning of new AI research tools and new LLM possibilities, and will push the boundaries of academic research and possibility.

Located an hour's drive to the east of Los Angeles, an hour west of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, an hour east of ocean beaches, ninety minutes north of San Diego, and an hour south of mountain ski resorts, UCR is located in an area of dramatic landscapes and rich cultural traditions. The University is a dynamic, aggressively developing land grant research institution dedicated to preparing its diverse student body to be successful competitors in the world marketplace of ideas.

Responsibilities

• AI Research Tools Consultation and Teaching: Provide consultation and training on advanced AI research tools and methodologies (e.g., LLMs, Reasoning AI models, Deep Research, Notebook LLM, Tableau) to faculty, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers.
• AI Tool Assessment and Curation: Develop systematic evaluation criteria for emerging AI research tools, focusing on accuracy, reliability, data privacy, and academic integrity. Maintain a curated collection of vetted AI tools for different research needs and disciplines. Create and regularly update documentation on tool capabilities, limitations, and best practices for academic use.
• Meta, Synthetic, and Systematic Analysis: Assist researchers with meta-analysis, synthetic research methods, and systematic analysis across diverse disciplines. Support the integration of AI technologies into these complex research processes.
• Research Lifecycle Support: Work with faculty, researchers and students to guide them through the data research lifecycle, from planning and data collection to analysis, interpretation, visualization and dissemination. Focus on how AI tools can augment each stage of the research lifecycle.
• Scholarly Research Ecosystem: Promote the use of AI tools within the broader context of the university and digital scholarly research ecosystem present in an academic research library, ensuring faculty and students have access to the most relevant tools and resources for their research.
• Collaborative Work with Data Science Team: Collaborate with AI Research Data Scientists and other members of the Research Services team on larger, interdisciplinary research projects.
• AI and Library Resources Integration: Help faculty, researchers and students on all levels including first-generation students to post-docs and use AI tools in conjunction with library resources, including catalog searches, research databases, citation tools and digital archives.
• Instruction and Programming: Develop and deliver research-focused workshops, training sessions, and presentations on AI tools, data analysis techniques, and research methodologies. Provide specialized support to students and faculty in integrating AI into research, writing, and presentations.
• Cross-disciplinary Support: Tailor AI research support to various disciplines, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Humanities, ensuring that AI tools are applied effectively across fields.
• Ethical and Responsible AI Use: Guide students and faculty in the ethical use of AI in research, emphasizing transparency, academic integrity, and responsible use of generative AI tools. Develop frameworks for appropriate AI attribution in academic work, address concerns about AI bias in research tools, and ensure compliance with institutional policies on AI use in research and teaching. Partner with campus stakeholders to establish best practices for responsible AI integration in scholarly work.
• Collaboration and Engagement: Collaborate with colleagues, including librarians and staff supporting GIS, Makerspace Labs, digital scholarship, medical programs and other subject-specific librarians to enhance the research experience for all disciplines.
• Ongoing Professional Development: Engage in continuous learning regarding the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and research technologies, and apply these innovations to library services and research support.

UC professional librarians are academic appointees and are represented by an exclusive bargaining unit; The University Council-American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT). This position is in the bargaining unit. Appointment at rank of Assistant Librarian to Librarian - Potential Career depending upon qualifications and experience.

See Table 26B Represented Librarian Series for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,781 - $128,788. Excellent retirement system, health, and vacation benefits.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• ALA-accredited master's degree in library and information science OR equivalent advanced degree.
• Proven experience or demonstrated ability to quickly learn and apply AI tools for research (Deep Research AI tools, autonomous agents), including literature review tools, research synthesis data analysis tools (e.g., Tableau), reasoning and best in class open source and proprietary LLMs and research presentation tools.
• Familiarity with the integration of AI tools into the research process, from literature review and data analysis to academic writing and presentation.
• Experience with or knowledge of AI-powered tools for meta-analysis, synthetic research, and systematic research methodologies.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex AI concepts and research methodologies to faculty, students, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and engage with a wide range of stakeholders across campus.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working in academic research libraries, with a strong focus on research services.
• Familiarity with advanced AI tools like autonomous agents, multimodal AI, and generative AI in academic research contexts.
• Experience with research data management and digital scholarship workflows.
• Familiarity with research tools for Social Sciences, Humanities, or other specialized research impact tools (e.g., Web of Science, Plum Analytics, Scopus).
• Familiarity with emerging trends in emerging academic research AI technologies and innovation in libraries.
• Basic Familiarity with autonomous agent environments, multimodal applications, Python, R, other GenAI deep learning frameworks.
• Advanced Degrees (Ph.D. or Professional) in an academic research related discipline

Application Requirements

Document requirements: Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V., Cover Letter, Statement of Research (Optional), Statement of Teaching (Optional), Misc / Additional (Optional)

Reference requirements: 3-5 required (contact information only)