Description

RESPONSIBILITIES: The University of Alabama Libraries seeks a creative and motivated individual to join the Research Computing Services team as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Librarian. Reporting to the Director of Research Computing Services, this position serves a dual role, supporting AI-assisted workflows and services within University Libraries and participating in multimodal library and information literacy instruction. 

The AI Librarian will collaborate with University Libraries colleagues and campus partners to identify, develop, and implement AI-driven solutions that enhance library workflows and services. Areas of focus may include AI-assisted applications for internal library operations, such as collection management, interlibrary loan, cataloging, metadata generation, transcription, indexing, and workflow automation, as well as end-user services, such as custom library chatbots, and recommendation and discovery systems.

Responsibilities also include providing consultations, instruction, training, outreach, and support for initiatives related to AI and related technologies within various phases of research and learning across campus. This position will develop and maintain AI and research computing related educational tutorials and documentation.

The AI Librarian will assist in the oversight of University Libraries student developers who provide research computing services such as workshops, walk-in coding support, and developing custom scripting for computational teaching and research projects. The AI Librarian will develop AI and related use-cases for student developer projects that support AI and computational research methods internally within University Libraries and across the disciplines supporting faculty, staff, and students. 

The AI Librarian will serve as a subject area liaison based on the evolving needs for research and instructional support. This position will be responsible for developing a robust instruction and outreach program, both in-person and online, while also offering AI related software application training and support services based on the assigned disciplines. This position will work collaboratively within University Libraries to promote and integrate research computing and data services into library instruction and workshops across the disciplines. Liaisons support both in-person and virtual instruction, reference, and outreach in assigned areas and will be expected to collaborate with teaching faculty on library assignments and actively create digital learning objects in support of teaching and research. 

The AI Librarian will be expected to develop a robust suite of structured information instruction and reference services. All liaisons participate in UA’s First Year Experience library instruction and weekly chat service. Moreover, all liaisons within University Libraries are actively incorporating AI as appropriate into their instruction, for example teaching emerging AI tools within library databases. The AI Librarian will coordinate AI activities among liaisons and across University Libraries, assist with developing AI literacies, as well as provide advanced AI support, for example assistance with locally run generative AI models for students and faculty or use of custom AI agents within instruction.

This position works with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and is expected to build and sustain relationships within University Libraries, with campus partners such as the High-Performance Computing and Data Center and the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, and with colleges and universities across the state, region, and nation.

The person in this position will be encouraged to pursue grant writing opportunities and submission of grants relevant to the mission of University Libraries and The University of Alabama. The successful candidate must possess the ability to approach change, ambiguity, and complex problems that are typical of a research university setting. 

Responsibilities of the position may change as University Libraries continues to evolve.

This position reports to Dr. Vin Scalfani, Director of Research Computing Services. To learn more about Dr. Scalfani’s research interests, publications, and scholarly contributions, please visit the following sites.

Scopus: http://www.scopus.com/inward/authorDetails.url?authorID=55764087400&partnerID=MN8TOARS 

WOS: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/O-8031-2016

ENVIRONMENT: The University of Alabama, The Capstone University, is the State of Alabama’s flagship public university, and the senior comprehensive doctoral level institution in Alabama. UA is an R1 institution, earning the Very High Spending and Doctorate Production status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UA enrolls over 40,000 students from all 67 Alabama counties, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 95 countries. In 2024, Graduate School enrollment jumped 5.4% with 6,001 students.  

University of Alabama students continue to win prestigious national awards. Sixty-nine UA students have been named Goldwater Scholars. The University of Alabama has produced a total of 17 Rhodes Scholars, 16 Truman Scholars, 43 Hollings Scholars and 21 Boren Scholars. The Fulbright Program selected 15 UA students for various awards for the 2025-2026 academic year. UA was named a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Students, a distinction that UA has now earned eight times in the last 10 years.

UA appeared on 14 U.S. News and World Report lists ranking the Best Online Programs, including five programs ranked in the top 10 of their respective lists.  UA made TIME magazine’s list of Best Colleges for Future Leaders 2025. Forty current UA faculty have received NSF CAREER Awards, one of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions of top-performing young scientists, in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences. 

UA made Forbes’ lists of Best Employers for New Grads 2024, America’s Best-In-State Employers 2024 and America’s Top Colleges 2023. The total statewide economic impact of UA according to the UA Center for Business and Economic Research, is $3.333 billion; 14,505 jobs; and $151.6 million in income and sales taxes.

The University of Alabama Libraries, a system of seven separate discipline-related libraries, is proud to support the research enterprise at the University of Alabama via a comprehensive and integrated network of resources, services, and technologies designed to meet the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. We take pride in serving as a hub for innovation, knowledge creation and dissemination, research assistance, and collaborative learning. As a U.S. Government Documents Regional Depository since 1860, University Libraries also serves the public and our local community.   

The University of Alabama Libraries maintains memberships in the Association of Research Libraries, the Center for Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA), the Coalition of Networked Information, centerNET, LYRASIS, HathiTrust, the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, LOCKSS, the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries, and the Alabama Digital Preservation Network. 

University Libraries provides strong mentorship for faculty and staff, with ongoing collaborative opportunities, and administrative support for innovative services and ideas. We promote and administer a robust professional development environment that supports faculty research and conference travel, and we are invested in academic freedom with teaching and research. We are heavily invested in performing the same high value research that our stakeholders produce, and that assists in our data-driven strategic planning for the future. Our staff routinely update and maintain cutting edge programs of service in support of our stakeholders. Our faculty librarians have developed a record-breaking instruction program, including a series of research data services and workshops, that consistently perform at the top of the SEC. 

UA is located in Tuscaloosa, a metropolitan area of over 250,000, with a vibrant economy, a moderate climate, and reputation across the South as an innovative, progressive community with an excellent quality of life. If working with a talented group of professionals who value service, innovation, and high achievement, earning a nationally competitive starting salary, in a thriving college town, with a low cost of living, close to Birmingham, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast sounds interesting to you, start your application process with us to learn more!

Prior to employment the successful candidate must pass a pre-employment background investigation.

SALARY/BENEFITS: 12-month tenure track faculty appointment at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank. Salary is $100,000.00 - $120,000.00, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and advanced degrees. Strong benefits, including professional development support, tuition fee waiver, and matching retirement contributions. 

TO APPLY: Applications are accepted online only at https://careers.ua.edu. Click Faculty Jobs, then University Libraries. Please include your application, Curriculum Vitae, cover letter, and names, addresses, phone numbers, and e- mail addresses of three references, including one current supervisor.

Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. Applications received by September 11, 2026, are assured of receiving full consideration.

For questions regarding the search, contact Michael Arthur, Senior Associate Dean, at maarthur@ua.edu.

Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

       Master's in Library & Information Sciences from an ALA-accredited institution or a doctoral degree in a relevant field.

       Experience with Python and scientific computing libraries including NumPy, Pandas, and scikit-learn.

       Familiarity with additional scientific computing or data science languages such as R, Julia, C++, Wolfram, or MATLAB.

       Experience managing development environments, including tools such as conda, containers, and version control systems.

       Experience developing or customizing AI tools such as creating custom agent instructions, configuring AI assistants, or using AI development APIs.

       Knowledge of the AI/ML model landscape, including generative AI, computer vision, multimodal models, natural language processing, and other domain-specific models.

       Familiarity with Linux based research computing environments including command line tools and connecting to remote servers.

       Ability and interest to serve as a subject area expert in STEM liaison areas.

       Ability to learn and apply new technical skills and tools through self-directed learning.

       Ability to conceptualize, articulate, and implement short and long-range goals.

       Ability to work independently and as a team member to solve problems, using sound judgment in decision-making according to an established timeframe.

       Commitment to conduct research and scholarship consistent with the requirements of a tenure track appointment; commitment to engage in continuing profession development and service.

       Excellent verbal and written communication, including associated skills such as listening, negotiating, and adapting. 

       Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex and changing environment

       Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively and complete tasks according to an established timeframe while managing multiple priorities and consistently meeting deadlines. 

       Adaptability, flexibility, and willingness to engage in continuous learning to meet the changing needs of library users.

       Ability to support and enhance a robust learning and working environment. 

       Responsibilities change as the University Libraries continue to evolve.  

       Ability to meet the requirements for tenure and promotion. 

       Evidence of ability to engage in research, librarianship, and service consistent with the University’s and Libraries’ guidelines for faculty promotion and tenure. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

      Doctoral degree in a STEM or related quantitative social sciences field.

      Experience with teaching or creating computing related tutorials.

      Experience running local language models using open-source tools such as llama-cpp or Ollama.

      Experience with LLM-based retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows.

      Experience with model libraries and frameworks such as PyTorch and Transformers for developing or running AI/ML models.

      Experience with natural language processing.

      Experience working with high-performance computing (HPC).

      Experience submitting grant proposals.

      Evidence of an active published research portfolio.

      Knowledge of reference/instructional services in an academic library setting.

      Knowledge of trends and services in academic libraries to support undergraduate, graduate, and online education

      Knowledge of current and emerging trends in information literacy instruction and information technologies.

      Awareness of new and emerging technologies and how they can be utilized in an academic library.

      Ability to successfully initiate, track, and manage projects.

      Understanding of ways to market and promote instruction, collections, and services to assigned liaison areas and various programs.