Margaret Spillett
(315) 443-1069
A biologist studying the way chemotherapy interacts with a tumor at the cellular level works years to develop the expertise needed to assess those changes. Meanwhile, advances in technology that enable the biologist to store, retrieve, manipulate and analyze the large amounts of data she collects are developing at a rate faster than she can keep up.
Likewise, international researchers working in Switzerland on the world’s largest and most advanced particle physics lab, CERN, need to send new data, access their previous research, and collaborate with colleagues back in their home countries. But again, their expertise is not in developing the technical infrastructure to ensure this process happens smoothly.
Who are the experts? Researchers at the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University (iSchool) are hoping to define this new group of workers that they’re calling cyberinfrastructure facilitators, or CI-facilitators.
Funded by a two-year, $244,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Office of CyberInfrastructure, the iSchool team will investigate “CI-Facilitators: Information Architects across the STEM Disciplines.” The team is headed by Associate Dean for Research Jeff Stanton, Dean Elizabeth D. Liddy, professor SU Chief Information Officer Paul Gandel, and professors Derrick L. Cogburn, R. David Lankes and Megan Oakleaf.
“The rapid pace in the development of information infrastructure implies that only individuals who dedicate their professional lives to it can truly keep up,” Stanton says. “Our proposal hopes to define the education and training of a new breed of information professionals called CI-facilitators. These individuals will ensure that researchers in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines can utilize the large-scale datasets, images, databases and other information collections they need to advance their work.”
The team will design an educational program at the graduate and undergraduate levels that will teach a set of focused skills, knowledge and capabilities. This program will include current courses, new courses, internships, technical training and a variety of other learning modules.
These students will graduate knowing how to:
The iSchool researchers believe this skill set will shorten the time it takes to achieve a goal. “We see CI-facilitators excelling in the three ‘I’s’-information, infrastructure and improvisation,” Stanton says. “They will have the research skills to discover the needs of information users and will be able to adapt available technology to satisfy those needs.”
Research led by Bryce Hruska, assistant professor in Falk College, was covered in the EMS World article “Job Stress and What to Do About It.” Hruska discusses how it can be difficult for EMS workers dealing with traumatic disorders to deal…
Cliff Davidson, Thomas and Colleen Wilmot Professor of Engineering and Environmental Engineering Program Director, was interviewed for the WESA-FM (Pittsburgh) story “Why Are The Globes On The Sixteenth Street Bridge Different Colors?” Davidson, who spent over 30 years studying air…
Osamah Khalil, Associate Professor of History in the Maxwell School, was quoted in 3 USA Today articles regarding Israeli leadership, ‘Watershed moment’, ‘Who is Naftali Bennett’, and ‘Israel’s new prime minister.’ Khalil, a historian of U.S. foreign relations and modern…
Afton Kapuscinski, assistant teaching professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and director of the Psychological Services Center, was interviewed for the Good Housekeeping article “How to Stop Being Angry – Expert Tips for Controlling Anger.” Kapuscinski talks about…
Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute in the Maxwell School, was quoted in The Hill article, “The Memo: Biden says democracies work; the US is not helping his case.” Reeher warns against…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
