In October 2023, we welcomed our second Open Science Postdoctoral Associate, Kristen Scotti, after she completed her PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at Northwestern University.
Now, like her predecessor in the role Chasz Griego, Scotti is transitioning to a full-time role in the Libraries as a STEM Librarian supporting the Math, Physics, and Statistics & Data Science Departments. To mark the occasion, we asked Kristen a few questions about what she did in her postdoc and how she plans to bring her experience in that position to her new role.
Before starting your new role as STEM Librarian, you were CMU Libraries’ open science postdoctoral associate. Can you tell us what you did in that role?
Much like the STEM Librarian role, the Open Science Postdoc position was a fun mix of teaching and research. Because I was new to libraries, part of the experience was learning how academic libraries operate and how I could contribute. One of the highlights for me was developing and teaching a workshop that combines AI literacy with coding. The goal was to help people learn how to code using AI chatbots: not just learning syntax, but also how to engage with AI tools critically and effectively. It was designed to make programming more accessible, especially for folks just getting started.
On the research side, I had two big projects. One focused on how academic libraries across the U.S. are engaging in open science, which I worked on under the guidance of Melanie Gainey, who directs the Open Science program here. We looked at this both broadly and at an institutional level, and the first paper from that work came out just yesterday.
The second project looked at how machine learning is being used in evidence synthesis. Evidence synthesis is the process of collecting, analyzing, and summarizing research studies to answer research questions, and it’s a big deal in fields like public health, education, and policy. Our Libraries have been supporting this kind of work for a while, and now we have a formal program led by Sarah Young. We’re working on exploring how automation — especially AI and machine learning — is being used in these workflows more broadly, so we can figure out how to best (and most responsibly) leverage those tools in our own support services.
Out of everything you worked on in your postdoc, what stands out to you the most in terms of seeing your work make an impact?
I’ve been fortunate to be involved in a lot of meaningful work here at CMU Libraries, but the project that stands out most is the Open Science Primer led by Emily Bongiovanni. It’s a train-the-trainer program designed to give academic librarians the knowledge and tools to support open science at their institutions. When I joined, the project was in the curriculum development phase, so I was able to participate in shaping the content. Now that we’re in the implementation phase, we’ve been traveling to academic libraries across the country to lead workshops.
Visiting different campuses and connecting with librarians from a wide range of institutions has been one of the most rewarding parts of my postdoc. It’s been inspiring to hear what libraries are doing around open science — where they’re leading, where they’re experimenting, and what challenges they’re facing. Everyone’s context is different, but common themes emerge. It’s given me a much clearer, big-picture view of the role academic libraries play within the broader research ecosystem — and on a personal level, it’s just been great to meet so many creative, passionate people doing amazing work. That sense of connection and shared purpose has been energizing, and it’s made the project feel impactful.
What inspired you to continue your career in libraries?
When I first came to CMU Libraries, I hadn’t considered a career in academic libraries. I came from a STEM research background, and while I was excited about the postdoc I initially saw it as a bridge — not necessarily a long-term path. But once I was here, I realized how closely the work aligned with what I care about most.
I’ve always thrived in interdisciplinary environments where I can solve complex problems and teach in creative ways — and working here has allowed me to do all of that. Over time, it became clear that this wasn’t just a side step — it was the direction I wanted to grow in. Being part of a library that champions innovation, collaboration, and community engagement made it an easy decision to stay and continue building a career in this space.
How do you think your background – both as a former Open Science Postdoctoral Associate and STEM graduate student – will shape the way you approach your new role?
Coming from a research-intensive background helps me understand the realities researchers and students navigate. During graduate school, I led interdisciplinary projects to conduct materials research in microgravity environments, so I have experience with the technical and the logistical challenges STEM researchers face.
My time as an open science postdoc gave me the opportunity to step back and examine those same systems through a different lens — focusing on how institutions and larger research ecosystems not only support scholars but shape the way research is practiced, shared, and valued. Together, these experiences help me to connect the everyday work of researchers with the broader goals of open, accessible science and to think critically about how library services can support both.
What excites you most about supporting open science as our new STEM librarian?
Open science has a lot of potential to make research more inclusive, collaborative, and impactful, and CMU Libraries has already been leading in this space. What excites me most is being part of a team that’s working to embed open practices into the everyday realities of research so that openness isn’t just aspirational, but integrated into the tools, workflows, and decisions researchers make.
Being at CMU, where there’s world-class work happening in machine learning and AI, adds another layer of opportunity. These technologies are transforming how research is conducted, and it’s critical that we integrate them in ways that align with the values of open science: transparency, reproducibility, and equity. Libraries have a key role to play in bridging those conversations, and I’m excited to be part of that work.
by Hannah Kinney-Kobre | Image: Kristen Scotti taking part in the 2024 AI Literacy Hackathon