Remote Academic Researcher Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Librarian at UL Research Institutes Library and Researcher Information Services (LRIS). The Research Librarian supports researchers and affiliated staff by providing a range of specialized services, including literature searches, research consultations, grant support, data management, and bibliometric analysis, as well as expert guidance on library systems and resources. The position acts as a liaison to ULRI's research institutes, offering discipline-specific expertise and oversight of specialized scientific collections. Reporting to the Research Librarian, Manager, the position partners with institutional leaders, researchers, and colleagues across the organization to enhance research impact and evolve the library's resources and service portfolio.

Work Location & Travel: This role is primarily remote; however, periodic onsite collaboration at our lab in Skokie, IL is expected. For this reason, candidates within reasonable commuting distance to Chicagoland are preferred. This position requires approximately 10% travel within the United States.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Research Librarian, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Support interdisciplinary research spanning materials science, chemistry, and engineering, including literature searches, citation and patent analysis, and data discovery.

• Conduct complex literature searches across core chemistry and materials science databases (e.g., SciFinder, Reaxys, Web of Science, Dimensions) and advise on comprehensive review and discovery strategies.

• Advise users on effective search strategies, database selection, citation management tools, and research methodologies.

• Support all stages of the research lifecycle, including grant support, publication strategies, and research impact assessment.

• Design and deliver training, workshops, and instructional sessions on research skills, information literacy, and ethical information use.

• Create and maintain research guides (e.g., LibGuides), tutorials, and instructional materials to support user needs.

• Provide guidance on scholarly publishing, open access, copyright, and intellectual property.

• Support access to and effective use of specialized digital tools, including chemical structure searching, spectral databases, patent databases, and materials property resources.

• Partner with other members of the research team and the research manager to form a community of practice that develops cohesive, iterative, and repeatable processes for research support.

What you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Demonstrated expertise with scientific research, data management, bibliometrics, and publication trends.

• Strong knowledge of chemistry and/or materials science information sources.

• Experience working in an academic or research library.

• Strong project management, initiative, and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues and use evidence to analyze problems and provide solutions.

• Strong communication skills; written, verbal, and interpersonal.

• Strong customer service orientation and ability to build trusted partnerships with researchers and stakeholders.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a remote and distributed environment.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) or equivalent from an ALA-accredited institution with a minimum of two (2) years of experience delivering research services (or equivalent experience) or

• Advanced degree or significant academic background in chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field, with at least four (4) years of relevant experience

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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