Please join us in welcoming Alfredo González-Espinoza to the Carnegie Mellon University Libraries as Research Data Services Librarian. Prior to joining the Libraries, Alfredo was a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biology in the University of Pennsylvania.
We asked Alfredo, who uses he/him/his pronouns, a few questions about himself and his plans for his new role.
What are your goals for this year as our new Research Data Services Librarian?
I have numerous goals and projects in mind that I want to pursue as an RDS librarian this year! However, to be realistic I’d like to start by getting to know everyone in CMU Libraries, what they do and how they utilize their skills to collaborate and give support to the CMU community. I would also like to survey researchers, particularly in arts and humanities -who are probably unaware about how much value their research data have to other researchers- to provide them with information and services to facilitate their data sharing and management. Furthermore, I aspire to create a research atlas of CMU, serving as an abstract representation of researchers and research topics. This representation could potentially help us comprehend how researchers establish collaborations within CMU, and to identify gaps or needs that they might have, in order to provide them with better data research services. And last but not least, I want to participate in several of many fascinating projects already underway at CMU libraries.
How has your prior experience prepared you for this role at the Carnegie Mellon University Libraries?
My previous experience has primarily been within academic settings, focusing on basic science research across collaborative and interdisciplinary laboratories such as Physical-Chemistry, Biophysics, Computational Genomics and Mathematical Biology. The diverse backgrounds of individuals in each lab fostered inclusive and collaborative environments, where we supported each other with tasks according to each member's expertise. This dynamic not only allowed me to contribute to others’ projects but also to learn a lot from them. Throughout my PhD and some postdoctoral years I explored questions that required quantifying musical features from music scores in innovative ways. This exploration exposed me to a range of tools and methods for managing, processing, and analyzing data across different types and formats. These experiences ultimately led me to CMU Libraries, where I have the privilege to engage in what I enjoyed most during my previous academic experience: assisting and supporting others in their projects while continuously learning from them.
What projects are you excited to tackle in your first few months?
There are numerous projects underway within the CMU Libraries team, and I'm eager to dive in as swiftly as possible. I am particularly excited about certain workshops that are already scheduled for this semester, such as the Reproducibility Hackathon 2024 organized by our colleague Chasz. Additionally, I am excited about surveying arts and humanities researchers in order to develop workshops tailored to their needs regarding data collection, management and exploratory analysis.
What do you like to do outside of work?
My range of interests outside of work is just as broad as my research interests! Music holds a special place in my heart, so I spend a good amount of time listening to music. While I appreciate all genres, I have a particular fondness for music with unique or unexpected elements and weird but clever ways to combine styles. As an amateur cellist, I’m always looking for opportunities to play with others! I also enjoy playing PC and console video games, most of my gaming time is currently distributed among Teamfight Tactics, Baldur’s Gate III and occasionally Rocket League. I like being physically active and having fun while doing it! So I enjoy playing soccer, biking and taking long walks/hikes. I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new ideas while doing it, and tasting a good espresso whenever I get the chance.