Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

College of Agriculture, Purdue University Libraries Seek Graduate Students for Semester-Long Data Literacy Pilot Program

November 7th, 2013

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The College of Agriculture, with support from Purdue University Libraries, is seeking to recruit graduate students in the College of Agriculture for a semester-long pilot data literacy program to be offered in spring of 2014 with some limited follow-up in the fall. The course will teach graduate students the knowledge and skills they need to be successful professionals in their discipline. Accepted students will receive a stipend of $1,500 for participating in this program. Applications are due by Nov. 18^th at 5 p.m.

Research in agriculture and related fields is growing more and more dependent on the application of data.  Emerging research professionals and data producers need to understand how to manage, organize, describe, disseminate and archive their data sets for themselves and others.

       In addition to teaching current trends and thinking in managing, organizing, sharing and curating research data, students will actively participate in shaping the program to address real world challenges and issues they face in developing and working with research data sets.  Participants will be applying what they learn to their own data sets as a part of the program.  

Through offering this pilot, the Libraries and the College of Agriculture will develop a better understanding of the issues with data that are universally relevant across departments and experience in teaching the knowledge and skills needed for students to address these issues.  This cohort of students will benefit from receiving intense, hands-on training in managing their own data.  One of the goals for the program is to create a community of students knowledgeable with data management and curation issues who will then be able to spread awareness and best practices of data management with fellow students and others in their own labs. 

 Students will be able to improve their current data processes through taking this course by working with research data they are already using.

 The application process:

 Space in this program is limited.  The pilot program can only accept 5 to 10 graduate students from the College of Agriculture.  Students will be selected through an application process.  Although PhD students are preferred, the course is open to both PhD and Masters level students provided that they meet the criteria listed below.  A $1,500 stipend Applications are due November 18^th, 2013 by 5 p.m.

• Students must be actively working with or developing a research data set as a part of their lab work and/or their scholarship.
  

• The student’s advisor will be asked to participate as a means to gauge student learning from the program.  Students will need to get the consent of their advisor to participate and secure an agreement from their advisor to be interviewed at the beginning of the semester and at the end of the semester.
  

• For an application and complete details contact Marianne Stowell Bracke, Associate Professor of Library Science / Agricultural Information Specialist at: mbracke@purdue.edu or (765) 496-9620.

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Sources:

Jake Carlson, Associate Professor of Library Science / Data Services Specialist, can be reached at: jakecarlson@purdue.edu

Marianne Stowell Bracke, Associate Professor of Library Science / Agricultural Information Specialist, can be reached at: mbracke@purdue.edu  

Related web site:

http://wwww.lib.purdue.edu