Digital Curator (PRODIG+ Fellow)

Stony Brook University is seeking a PRODiG+ Fellow in the department of University Libraries / Special Collections and University Archives through the State University of New York (SUNY) Promoting Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Growth Plus (PRODiG+) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PRODiG+). PRODiG+ is designed with two primary goals: (1) increasing the number and share of excellent diverse faculty committed to advancing the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and (2) strengthening the pipeline for retention and support of those faculty. Additional information on the PRODiG+ Fellowship can be found at https://www.suny.edu/prodig-plus/fellowship/.

The Digital Curator is a PRODiG+ postdoctoral fellow who advances strategic digital initiatives with a strong commitment to ADA-compliant access. Working across the Libraries and SBU campuses, the curator supports innovative research and teaching through the development, interpretation, and stewardship of digital and digitized collections, including but not limited to primary sources.

The position is a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure-track faculty position at the lecturer level to commence in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will be appointed for 2 years at an annual salary of $80,000 with comprehensive state benefits. The fellow will be a part of a mentored research environment and, with successful performance and demonstrated equitable and inclusive teaching strategies focused on student success, will be invited to join the tenure-track faculty at Stony Brook University after two years.

The curator guides the Libraries’ web archiving program as a distinct responsibility, establishing collecting priorities and sustainable access strategies that document institutional and community histories. In partnership with faculty and researchers, the curator explores the use of computational methods and artificial intelligence (AI) to deepen engagement with digital collections and related scholarly resources.

As a key contributor to digital content workflows, the curator supports forward-facing initiatives such as metadata creation, contextualization, user experience assessment, and interpretive content development across a range of digital assets. The role also includes supporting digitization and selective physical processing, ensuring collections and digital resources are accessible, discoverable, and meaningfully integrated into the University’s inclusive teaching practice, innovative research, and community engagement.

Through collaboration with faculty, students, researchers, and community partners, the curator promotes inclusive pedagogical practices and strengthens engagement with the Libraries’ distinctive collections and digital resources across physical and virtual environments.

The successful candidate’s appointment will be in University Libraries.

Preference will be given to candidates who are:

• Current SUNY students, alumni, and/or Fellows.
• From a low-income background (e.g. Pell-eligible as undergraduates), were first-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor's degree), have overcome adversity, are AmeriCorps alumni or are veterans.

The PRODiG + Fellowship is open to any and all prospective candidates regardless of race, color, national origin, or sex, and is consistent with all current governing federal and state nondiscrimination laws. All application submissions will be assessed and evaluated in accordance with the required eligibility criteria.

ReportingThis position reports to the Director of Special Collections and University Archives.

Responsibilities and Requirements

Digital Content & Metadata

• Contribute to digital content workflows including digitization, metadata creation, access, maintenance, and enhancement.
• Develop contextual and interpretive content supporting discovery and engagement.
• Provide feedback on user experience and accessibility of digital platforms.
• Support digitization initiatives in collaboration with library departments.
• Support efforts to ensure ADA compliance of digital and instructional materials.
• Assist with physical collection processing and preparation of materials for digitization.

Web Archiving

• Guide the development and coordination of the Libraries’ web archiving program.
• Develop collecting priorities and appraisal criteria for web content.
• Assist with implementing tools and workflows for web capture, preservation, and access, while coordinating efforts among library staff and faculty.
• Collaborate with campus partners to document institutional and community web presence.

Instruction and Research Support

• Develop and deliver instruction sessions integrating digital primary sources.
• Promote digital collections in research and teaching.
• Collaborate with faculty to design assignments incorporating digital collections.
• Create accessible online tutorials and learning objects.
• Provide reference and research support primarily for digital collections, with additional support for physical collections as needed.

DEIA-Centered Curation and Pedagogy

• Center DEIA principles in teaching and digital curation.
• Apply inclusive descriptive practices and culturally responsive metadata.
• Ensure newly created digital collections meet web accessibility standards.
• Contribute to outreach initiatives broadening representation and engagement.

Research & Scholarship

• Explore emerging tools and experimental methods that enhance the interpretation and use of digital collections.
• Participate in professional organizations, conferences, and training opportunities.
• Contribute to scholarship related to digital curation and adjacent areas of research and practice.

Required Qualifications:

• A master’s degree or PhD, or other advanced degree (foreign equivalent accepted), or an equivalent combination of education and experience commensurate with the position’s requirements.
• Experience in special collections, archives, or digital collections/content environments.
• Demonstrate personal, academic, and/or work experience engaging with diversity, equity, and inclusion and/or a commitment to facilitating and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the campus community. Such experiences may include, but is not limited to, an academic/scholarly track record focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion; work, volunteer/unpaid/community service, or related experience/expertise in serving underserved or vulnerable areas and/or populations.
• Be eligible to work in the United States without a visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework in archives/library
• Instruction or training experience in a library/archives/cultural heritage or related environment.
• Experience implementing web archiving
• Familiarity with computational methods or AI applied to digital collections and related datasets, including unstructured and uncurated data.
• Evidence of research, scholarship, or professional engagement.
• Demonstrated ability, or potential, to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration
• Familiarity with ADA accessibility standards and inclusive digital practices.