The SALAMANDER Program for Fostering Academic Librarians' AI Research

The Strengthening Academic Librarians’ AI Methods And Networks for Digital Ethics Research (SALAMANDER) program is a two-year, cohort-based professional development and research forum with the purpose of strengthening academic librarians’ capacity to engage in research relating to artificial intelligence (AI) ethics, AI literacy, responsible AI use in higher education, and AI workforce development. 

SALAMANDER project logo

Each year, up to 30 academic librarians, doctoral students, and non-tenured LIS faculty from across the country will join a six-month mentoring program that pairs them with experienced researchers in information science, data science, and learning technologies. Participants will work one-on-one or in small teams to design, execute, and publish original research on AI ethics, literacy, and responsible use in higher education, culminating in a two-day symposium in Denton, Texas. Along the way, they will gain the tools, networks, and confidence to move from supporting AI initiatives on their campuses to leading original research that shapes the national conversation.

SALAMANDER Resource Hub

Looking for recent research publications to support your studies of AI literacy, AI ethics, AI roles in libraries, privacy and security considerations with AI, or research methods for AI studies? The SALAMANDER Resource Hub is a central location for lists and annotated bibliographies of recent work in these areas and more. Visit the Hub today to start your research!

Now Accepting Applications for the 2027 Cohort!

Applicant Criteria
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Must currently be residing with the United States of America.
  • Must be able to attend monthly meetings from January to May 2027 via Zoom and a face-to-face Forum on June 18-19, 2027 in Denton, Texas.
  • Must have prior experience either 1) working in academic libraries (in any capacity), or 2) conducting research that broadly benefits those working in academic libraries.
  • Must be either an active academic library employee (tenured or non-tenured), doctoral student, or non-tenured faculty in a library and information science program (either NTT or pre-tenure TT).
Program Requirements
  • Attend a kick-off meeting (or view the recording and complete an information sheet) in January 2027.
  • Participate in monthly mentorship and collaboration meetings with your assigned project personnel on an agreed-upon date and time.
  • Attend the face-to-face Forum on June 18-19, 2027 in Denton, Texas.
  • Participate in either a solo or collaborative research project relating to the themes of the SALAMANDER project.
Participant Benefits
  • Dedicated mentorship from an experienced AI ethics/literacy researcher across the six month program, with support for everything from developing a research question through the final publication.
  • Guided path to publication in LIS journals, including the opportunity to submit your work to a special issue of the open access journal Information Services and Use, supported by Sage Publishing.
  • A $750 stipend to participate in a two-day, in-person symposium in Denton, Texas, with national keynote speakers, hands-on research tutorials, and networking with fellow librarian-researchers from across the country.
  • Participation in a national network of AI-focused librarian-researchers, sustained through the program's Discord community and alumni connections after the Forum ends.
Program Application

The application form for the 2027 SALAMANDER cohort is now open! We are seeking academic librarians, doctoral students, and non-tenured LIS faculty from a wide range of institutions, including rural and under-resourced academic libraries, private, religious, and military universities, and community and technical colleges, in addition to public research institutions. The application will consist of a basic applicant information, a CV upload, and a short statement of interest. 

Please complete this Application Form to be considered for the 2027 cohort. Applications are due by 11:59 PM local time on October 31, 2026 for priority consideration; applicants who meet this deadline can expect to hear from us with a decision before the end of November. 

Program Personnel
  • Dr. Brady D. Lund - Assistant Professor, Department of Information Science - Principal Investigator
  • Dr. Ji Hyun Yu - Assistant Professor, Department of Learning Technologies - Co-Principal Investigator
  • Dr. Tozammel Hossain - Assistant Professor, Department of Data Science - Co-Principal Investigator
  • Dr. Jeonghyun (Annie) Kim - Professor, Department of Information Science - Supporting Personnel
Advisory Board
  • Ken Varnum, Senior Program Manager and Discovery Strategist, University of Michigan
  • Brett M. Porter, Assistant Professor and Web Services Librarian, Sam Houston State University 
  • Lingzi Hong, Associate Professor of Data Science, University of North Texas 
  • Jeehyun Davis, University Librarian, American University 
Administrative Details

SALAMANDER is hosted by the University of North Texas and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant Number RE-259543-OLS-26).  IMLS logo

Learn more about the Computational Humanities and Innovative Literacies Lab, our student and professional affiliates, and opportunities for collaboration, on the lab's website.