RUresearch Data Team
The RUresearch Data Team consists of professionals from across the Rutgers University Libraries with expertise across the full spectrum of data management and curation. The RUresearch Data Team provides consultation services on Data Management Plans, archives data and products of Rutgers faculty research, partners with faculty on larger digital infrastructure projects and grants, and works on building the Libraries' capacity to archive and manage data.
- Ryan WomackData Librarian
- Ryan leads the RUresearch Data Team and oversees the development of tools and services for managing and displaying research data in RUcore, the Rutgers University Community Repository. He also works with with faculty on specific data projects and acquires and maintains specialized numeric data resources for the Libraries.
- Ryan came to Rutgers in 1999 and has served as Data and Economics Librarian since 2008. He holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is working on an M.S. in Statistics at Rutgers.
- Grace AgnewAssociate University Librarian for Digital Library Systems
- Grace oversees the RUcore cyberinfrastructure development, which includes the cyberinfrastructure of RUresearch.
- She has been reviewing grant proposals and grant initiatives for the National Science Foundation since 2001 and is currently the co-P.I. on the NSF-funded Video Mosaic Collaborative.
- Kalaivani AnanthanDigital Library Applications Manager
- Kalaivani supports digital library initiatives as the libraries' applications manager. She also designs and oversees testing of RUcore applications.
- Kalaivani began at Rutgers in 1991 in the Integrated Information System department. She earned her B.S. in Computer Science from Rutgers.
- Isaiah BeardDigital Data Curator
- Isaiah works on establishing standards and workflow practices for the digitization and encoding of digital assets, so they can be preserved in our digital repository known as RUcore.
- Isaiah's background in digital preservation began with his avid interest in photography, and in the issues facing the field as it shifts from analog film formats into an increasingly digital landscape.
- John BrennanDigital Projects Manager
- John works with faculty to create data models which help organize their research data for reusability within RUcore.
- John came to Rutgers after a successful career 14 year career at TIAA-CREF. His experience includes long-term planning, process development, team facilitation, finance and marketing. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
- Melissa De FinoSpecial Collections and Digital Projects Metadata Librarian
- Melissa De Fino is a metadata librarian, specializing in special collections and archives. In addition to data sets, she is responsible for acquisitions and cataloging of special collections materials in all formats.
- Melissa came to Rutgers in 2003. She holds a BA in English from Fordham University and an MLIS from Rutgers University.
- Bonnie FongPhysical Sciences Librarian
- Bonnie serves as the John Cotton Dana Library's liaison to the Chemistry, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics departments on Rutgers' Newark campus.
- Bonnie earned her A.B. from Smith College, where she majored in Chemistry. She earned her M.S. in Library Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
- Karen HartmanSocial Sciences Librarian
- Karen currently serves as subject liaison to the School of Social Work and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
- Karen came to Rutgers in 2003 and holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of California, Riverside and an M.L.S. from Rutgers.
- Ron JantzDigital Library Architect
- Ron chairs the Software Architecture group which is responsible for developing RUcore. His research interests relate to digital libraries, digital preservation, and related roles in academic libraries. His current focus is on developing capabilities for science data deposit and access in RUcore.
- Ron holds a Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Michigan and an MLS from Rutgers. Ron is a candidate for the PhD at Rutgers' School of Communication and Information. His dissertation topic is related to innovation in institutional nonprofit organizations such as research libraries.
- Peter KoninDigital Projects Coordinator
- Peter is responsible for tracking and supporting the development and execution of digital projects in RUcore. He is currently working on implementing a combined registration and project management system for all RUcore projects.
- Peter holds a BA in Art History from Rutgers and an MSLIS from Drexel University.
- Rhonda MarkerRepository Collection Librarian
- Rhonda oversees the development of digital collections in RUcore, in her capacity as Repository Collection Manager. She is also the head of the Scholarly Communication Center, which supports the development and integration of scholarly, scientific, and educational information through a wide range of innovative digital services.
- Rhonda began at Rutgers in 1989 in the Cataloging Department where she held various positions including department head. She earned her M.S. in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute.
- Chad MillsDigital Library Architect
- Chad serves as a digital library architect for digital projects at Rutgers University Libraries. His areas of interest include user interface design and developing standard web services for RUcore which can be accessed by multiple applications to perform common tasks. Currently he is serving as the lead architect on the Video Mosaic Collaborative project.
- Chad has a B.S. in Computer/Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University.
- Aletia MorganResearch Data Manager
- Aletia is responsible for outreach to researchers and for identifying opportunities to enhance the usefulness and utilization of the RUresearch and RUcore programs. She also consults with faculty and research administration on data management planning, and acts as a liaison to the Office of the Vice President for Research.
- Aletia has most recently worked for the Rutgers Vice President for Research in the development and clarification of the institutional response to new data sharing requirements from the National Science Foundation. Before joining Rutgers, she was the Director of Information Technology for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Iowa. She holds an M.B.A. in Management Information Systems from Vanderbilt University.
- Laura MullenBehavioral Sciences Librarian
- Laura has been a science librarian for many years. She is responsible for library collections and services in behavioral sciences as well as continuing to serve as the Science Team Leader for collections.
- Mullen has an B.A. degree in Zoology and Psychology from the University of New Hampshire, and an MLS from Rutgers. Laura has recently authored a book and articles on open access and its impact on academic libraries.
- Jane Johnson OttoMedia and Music Metadata Librarian
- Jane specializes in video and audio data sets, often customizing metadata for faculty in order to optimize retrieval in RUcore. Her primary responsibilities are metadata creation, taxonomies, and record displays; she contributes to the ongoing development of the University repository's metadata strategies and oversees cataloging of media and scores.
- Jane's background is in art and archival materials; prior to arriving at Rutgers in 2008, she worked with visual materials at the UCLA Film and Television Archive, the Library of Congress, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She holds a BFA in studio ceramics and an MLS from UCLA.
- Minglu WangData Services Librarian, Newark
- Minglu helps research centers, faculty, staff, and students on the Newark campus with their various needs on data analysis and presentation. She also teaches introductory workshops on statistical packages to the graduate students.
- Minglu holds an MA in Sociology, and she obtained her MLIS from the University of Iowa, where she was an IMLS funded Digital Library Fellow, working on variety of digital library projects at the Department of Digital Library Services there.
- Ann WatkinsLife Sciences Librarian
- Ann provides reference services and collection support to students and faculty in the biological sciences, neuroscience, and psychology. She is expanding her knowledge of research data management in the sciences through the RUresearch Program and other initiatives to address information needs associated with access, organization and storage of large science related data sets.
- Ann joined the University Libraries in 1989 as Health and Life Sciences Librarian. She had previously been employed in medical libraries. Ann received a B. A. from Penn State and an M.S.L.S. from Pratt Institute.
- Mary Beth WeberHead, Central Technical Services, Technical and Automated Services
- Mary Beth chairs the Metadata Working Group and has led efforts to develop Rutgers' metadata schema, which is a hybrid of MODS, Premis and locally developed standards. She also works on digital projects with Rutgers faculty as well as external project partners who contribute to the New Jersey Digital Highway. Mary Beth worked with Grace Agnew and Chad Mills to develop the Video Mosaic Collaborative portal.
- Mary Beth came to Rutgers in 1989. Her initial assignment was Special Formats Catalog Librarian. She has also served as the Head of Copy Cataloging, and the Head of Cataloging and Metadata Services. She earned her BA from Michigan State University where she had a double major in Art History and English and earned her MLS from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.