Evidence Synthesis Information Scientist

Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Evidence Synthesis Information Scientist supports evidence synthesis research at Virginia Tech across various locations and affiliates as part of the collaborative Evidence Synthesis Services team. This role acts as an ambassador for high-quality evidence synthesis, serving as an expert in search techniques and synthesis methods like systematic reviews. Responsibilities include providing consultation, outreach, training, and support for systematic reviews and related topics. The scientist will explore emerging tools and methods, supervise student assistants, utilize project management practices, and contribute to promoting open and collaborative research. Additionally, the role involves contributing to the fields of evidence synthesis and librarianship through scholarly and professional activities, participating in committees, and demonstrating a commitment to teamwork, service excellence, and Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community.

Requirements

• Masters degree from an ALA-accredited graduate program; OR an advanced degree in a position-related field, such as: data science, epidemiology, health sciences, life sciences, social sciences, public health, statistics, agricultural science, environmental science, engineering, or other related fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading systematic review search strategy development, implementation, and documentation
• Demonstrated experience conducting systematic review searches in databases such as MEDLINE/PubMed, CAB Abstracts, Scopus; other databases via platforms such as EBSCOhost, ProQuest, Web of Science
• Demonstrated experience using and supporting others in evidence synthesis search methodologies, guidelines, and standards such as those recommended by Cochrane, Campbell, the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence; PRISMA, ROSES; etc.
• Demonstrated experience providing reference or research assistance and instruction/training in an academic, research, or clinical environment
• Demonstrated experience in outreach, relationship building, and collaboration with a variety of groups such as faculty, students, or vendors
• Demonstrated experience designing, planning, implementing, and maintaining complex projects
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with colleagues to problem-solve and share knowledge, with a commitment to team efforts and service excellence
• Demonstrated ability to effectively understand and communicate complex ideas to novice and scientific/technical audiences
• Excellent writing and communication skills, including experience with proofreading publication manuscripts and following a variety of style guides

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience peer reviewing systematic review search strategies
• Demonstrated experience using and/or training others in evidence synthesis project management tools, such as: Covidence, DistillerSR, Rayyan, or others
• Demonstrated experience providing support or instruction for developing and refining research scope; critical appraisal of primary research; systematic data extraction or coding; approaches to synthesizing qualitative evidence; and/or archiving supplemental material
• Demonstrated experience with conducting primary research
• Demonstrated experience conducting advanced statistical analyses
• Demonstrated experience in using and/or training others in text or data mining, machine learning, language models, or other AI tools for evidence synthesis
• Demonstrated experience in or support of one of the following, or related fields: engineering, computer science, or environmental science

Responsibilities

• Supports evidence synthesis research at Virginia Tech for Blacksburg, Roanoke, the National Capital Region, and other university locations and affiliates.
• Serves as an ambassador for high-quality evidence synthesis at Virginia Tech and as an expert in search techniques and synthesis methods such as systematic reviews.
• Provides guidelines-based consultation, outreach, live and asynchronous training, and additional support for systematic reviews and other topics related to evidence synthesis.
• Explores emerging tools, resources, and methods for evidence synthesis.
• Supervises student assistants.
• Uses and promotes effective project management practices.
• Contributes to supporting the Virginia Tech community in adoption of open and collaborative research practices.
• Contributes to the fields of evidence synthesis and librarianship through scholarly and professional activities.
• Participates in serving on institutional or professional committees.
• Demonstrates a commitment to team efforts, service excellence, and Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level