The Library Executive Group welcomes Vijoy Abraham as the new Assistant University Librarian for Research Data Services. Vijoy comes to his new role with a 26-year (and counting) tenure in research data services at Stanford University Libraries.
Vijoy joined the Libraries in 1999 as a part of the Academic Technology Specialist Program, supporting the Psychology Department before moving to the newly launched Institute for Research in the Social Sciences. In 2018, Vijoy took on the leadership of the Center for Interdisciplinary Digital Research (CIDR), which included support for computational social sciences and digital humanities, and oversaw the Software and Services for Data Science training and consultation group. Vijoy’s leadership of CIDR was key in pivoting all of its public services to online during the pandemic. He later reintroduced them as hybrid services.
Through his years in the Libraries, Vijoy brings both an innovative spirit and in-depth knowledge to his work in research data services where he will now lead a team of scholar-practitioners in applying emerging computational tools and methods to the sciences and humanities. Along with these tools, the team will offer their services through a world-renowned geospatial center of excellence.
“I have been highly impressed with Vijoy’s work over the years growing the Libraries’ research data services," shared Michael Keller, the Ida M. Green University Librarian. “His support of faculty research in the social sciences and humanities developed in conjunction with the emerging data and information needs of these areas exemplifies his skills as a leader and connector enabling pioneering multidisciplinary research."
For many who have worked with Vijoy over the years, they have seen firsthand his commitment to implement new data and information provisioning services in support of faculty research. At the same, he has helped to build the Libraries’ resources in this area by serving as what he described as “a consultant and connector between faculty, administration and learners, and the resources that allow their work to flourish.”
Added Vijoy, “It is an honor to be chosen to lead the Research Data Services team. I am thrilled to guide this team in continuing their exemplary scholarship support across nearly every domain represented at this University.”
Outside of work, Vijoy enjoys his life as a dad living in San Francisco and always finding the occasions to go backpacking and motorcycling.