Data Scientist, Center for Black Digital Research

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

19h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek a creative and forward-thinking Data Scientist to advance computational research and digital scholarship using archival collections and datasets. Position Overview This position is based in the Eberly Family Special Collections Library (SCL) and collaborates closely with the Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR) and its interdisciplinary faculty directorate to support the stewardship and computational exploration of archival collections within the SCL while advancing research initiatives and digital scholarship projects through CBDR. The Eberly Family Special Collections Library (SCL) is a community-centered cultural heritage repository that supports teaching, learning, and research through meaningful engagement with distinctive collections. SCL places student success at the center of its work and serves as a laboratory for learning and discovery where students, faculty, and researchers interact directly with primary sources to generate new knowledge and scholarship. Through ethical stewardship, community partnership, and digital innovation, SCL connects Penn State, Pennsylvania, and the wider scholarly world with the stories preserved in its collections. Within this environment, the Data Scientist will contribute to emerging work at the intersection of archives and critical approaches to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital humanities. The Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR) is a public-facing, digital research center and a collaboration between the University Libraries, the College of the Liberal Arts, and the College of Engineering. CBDR advances what it describes as transformational technologies: the intersection of critical approaches to artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital humanities methods applied to Black cultural heritage and digital collections. The Data Scientist will be responsible for developing innovative computational approaches to working with digital collections and datasets, including machine learning, large language models, data visualization, and other emerging methods. This position will lead training and mentorship across interdisciplinary teams of students, faculty, and staff on data workflows across multiple projects and areas of research. As a key member of the CBDR team, the Data Scientist will help shape research agendas that apply data science and digital humanities to archival collections while centering community engagement, ethical stewardship, and the human stories embedded in the data. The Data Scientist will contribute technical expertise, leadership, and collaborative research support for projects involving digital collections, computational analysis, and Black digital humanities scholarship.

Requirements

Experience with critically applying computational methods to the process of collecting, refining, analyzing, and interpreting complex datasets.
Outstanding problem-solving skills.
Effective written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences and contexts.
Inclusive and respectful when working with others.
Versed in best practices in the fields of digital humanities, computer and information sciences, data science, and/or machine learning.
Proficiency in Python.
If filled as Research Data Scientist - Senior Professional, this position requires: Master's Degree 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
If filled as Research Data Scientist - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
That relevant experience must come from one of the following fields or one that is related: computer science, data science, information science, information management, African American Studies, African Studies, History, or English.

Nice To Haves

Significant experience with conducting collaborative research in Black digital collections and/or archives, including but not limited to dataset development, crowdsourcing, etc.
Experience working with interdisciplinary teams of technical and subject matter experts to leverage and transform content management systems in manners that prioritize the needs of stakeholder communities and a variety of audiences.
Experience supporting learners from varied backgrounds to build digital competency and navigate academic environments.
Experience using data visualization and mapping software, techniques, and tools to translate complex data for non-specialist audiences.
Leadership skills to build and manage teams and processes that anticipate and resolve complex challenges in the areas of data, digital collections, and related areas.
Experience securing external funding and/or participating in grant proposal writing.

Responsibilities

Lead new technical innovations for working with datasets on CBDR projects that include developing new quantitative and qualitative techniques, concepts, or approaches to datasets.
Lead or co-lead new efforts to explore, understand, and present new approaches to applying machine learning, large language models, or other technologies that will address current technical challenges, advance the CBDR’s work with data and digital collections, and are in-line with CBDR principles .
Problem solving moderate to complex problems, applying expertise and practices of the field to propose solutions and their benefits, limitations, impact, and how they can map onto the CBDR’s multi-layered digital ecosystem.
Analyze system pipelines, workflows, and software options and propose solutions to ensure effectiveness, scalability, and interoperability of computing and digital publishing infrastructures that bridge interdisciplinary gaps and streamline cross-disciplinary project work.
Contribute to maintenance, sustainability, and documentation of the CBDR digital infrastructures, computational applications, and related software.
Organize, assign, and review completed work to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards.
Share and demonstrate expertise at venues (conferences, training programs, publications) to contribute to advancing CBDR scholarly research agendas and elevating the profile of Black public and digital humanities and transformational technologies.
Collaborate/strategize with colleagues in Special Collections and across colleges to consider critical questions and ethics of digital access, engagement, and exploration of archival material particularly concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems with archives of marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Lead or co-lead presentations, workshops, and trainings to expand understanding of ethical use of machine learning and the archives, and think about the connectedness of the work and where there are opportunities not visible in traditional academic structures.
Supervise part-time team members (e.g., graduate and undergraduate students) as the need arises.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

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