A newly available platform through UAB Libraries enables clinicians and health care faculty and students to better organize and manage evidence-based practice and quality improvement projects.

Ovid Synthesis (available at no cost to UAB students and employees through UAB Libraries following a licensure request) provides templates for project management, guiding users through the steps of an evidence-based practice or quality improvement project. It includes an integrated search feature to access to more than 6,000 e-books and more than 1,400 peer-reviewed journals, and users also can add team members in a variety of project roles, set goals and deadlines, and, once a project is complete, generate presentations for public dissemination.

Librarians in the Clinical, Academic, and Research Engagement (CARE) and Clinical Services departments in UAB Libraries and faculty from the School of Nursing, led by Shea Polancich, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Family, Community and Health Systems, spent two years piloting the software with test users in quality improvement in UAB Medicine and students and faculty in the School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, then customizing the platform based on the unique needs and wants of users from the UAB enterprise.

“The great thing about Ovid Synthesis is that provides users pathways through an entire project from start to finish,” explained Emma O’Hagan, clinical services librarian in Lister Hill Library at University Hospital, a branch location of Lister Hill Library that provides hospital staff with accurate, reliable, and timely information in support of patient care, education, and research.

“What starts as a single idea turns into a project, and then from that project come evidence-based outcomes that are ready for the real world.”

 Heather Nelson-Brantley, Ph.D., director of the Executive DNP Pathway in the School of Nursing, says having the option to use Ovid Synthesis is reducing apprehension about project management for her students.

“Students have shared how this approach has reduced the anxiety they have historically experienced from the daunting thought of needing to develop an entire proposal starting from a blank page,” she explained. “The ability to generate a literature appraisal table, a draft manuscript, and draft presentation slides also are features that our students have expressed enthusiasm for.”

Nelson-Brantley also uses the platform to oversee her students’ project; she adds that Ovid Synthesis has simplified this as well.

“As a program director, I appreciate the ability to view and provide feedback on all student projects in one place,” she said.

For DNP students working on quality improvement projects, Tedra Smith, DNP, associate professor in the Department of Family, Community and Health Systems, says that the tool’s functionality “offers a robust, systematic and structured approach to education,” and that it enables better communication between faculty and students while providing a centrally located hub for each of a project’s vital components.

“Overall, Ovid Synthesis is becoming an essential tool for design, implantation and evaluation of robust quality improvement products.”

Ovid Synthesis is available at no cost to the user through a partnership between UAB Libraries and the School of Nursing. To request a license and/or training, complete this form; a limited number of licenses currently are available.

Details

Category: Announcements

Two full-time employees and one student employee received awards during annual employee recognition event “You are UAB Libraries” March 13 in the Alumni House.

Patrick Boggs, technology labs manager; Patricia West, assistant dean for User Access; and Nahiyan “Mohammed” Majid, administrative student assistant, received the UAB Libraries Shared Values Award.  The awards highlight Libraries employees who exemplify UAB’s four shared values: Care, Act with Integrity, Respect All, and Excel.
 

Patrick Boggs

Technology labs manager, Technology and Technical Services

Nominators write of Boggs that, “simply put, he’s a rockstar.” Noting that even though his work can go unseen, Boggs, who joined the TTS team in 2021, “moves across campus like a ninja” — managing technology labs, fixing 3D printers, conducting workshops and providing consultations for both employees and students. And as a manager, the nominator continued, Boggs “fosters a culture of mutual respect, adherence to policies and high service standards.”

“He consistently prioritizes the success of others, working late when needed, maintaining professionalism in challenging situations and excelling in his role with minimal oversight,” a nominator wrote.

Examples of Boggs’ hard work and dedication submitted by nominators include his work on the Libraries’ booth at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, where he “spent hours setting up in the summer heat, demonstrating VR headsets for people of all ages” and never once complaining — and the way he stepped up when his immediate supervisor took an extended leave in 2024, quickly learning to lead faculty consultations. And lastly, nominators praise Boggs for taking over all workshop responsibilities following the unexpected departure of the emerging technologies librarian, ensuring continuity for both students and employees.

Patricia West

Assistant dean, User Access

“Patricia is an enthusiastic and dedicated colleague, always willing to collaborate on projects both big and small,” nominators write, nothing that West always is respectful to all, welcoming to new ideas and perspectives, and available to offer thoughtful feedback.

“Patricia leads by example, consistently stepping up to solve challenges — whether staying late or covering understaffed shifts without hesitation,” nominators write. “Her passion for libraries is contagious, inspiring those around her to grow and excel in their roles.”

West is known for her active work to enhance the experiences of all Libraries patrons — she collaborates consistently across campus, working with units such as Disability Support Services (DSS) and INTO UAB. Nominators write that she exemplifies all of the UAB Shared Values, but that her “exceptional collaboration stands out.” She has worked to build strong and lasting partnerships with other academic and support units at the university, including UAB Police, the Vulcan Materials Academic Success Center, Student Affairs, Facilities, DSS, and University Recreation, and has implemented safety trainings for Libraries employees, led the installation of defibrillators in Sterne and Lister Hill libraries, and spearheaded efforts to establish a sensory room in Sterne, in collaboration with DSS.

“Her efforts have significantly enhanced the safety, security, and well-being of both students and library employees,” nominators continued.

Nahiyan “Mohammed” Majid

Student assistant, Administrative Office

Nominators write that Majid has “exceptional dedication” as an administrative student worker for UAB Libraries, and that he steadfastly is committed to UAB Libraries’ mission and always willing to collaborate with others.

“Throughout his time in the administrative office, Mohammed has consistently demonstrated outstanding communication and organizational skills, a strong work ethic, and a positive attitude,” a nominator wrote.

Details

Category: Announcements

With years of service ranging from 10 to 30, employees from across UAB Libraries will be honored during a ceremony April 8 in the Hill Student Center.

The UAB Service Awards honor employees with five or more years of service to UAB at each five-year milestone.

This year’s honored employees:

• Brian Brookshaw, remote storage associate — 30 years
• Lakonja Billups, user access associate — 25 years
• Sharron Brownlee, interlibrary loan associate — 25 years
• Delores Carlito, head of Sterne Department of Research and Learning — 25 years
• Christina McClellan, curator, Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences — 10 years

Details

Category: Announcements

Learn the details of critical appraisal during a four-part training series spanning March-April from UAB Libraries’ Clinical, Academic and Research Engagement team; each session is available at no cost to faculty, staff and student researchers.

Critical appraisal is a systematic process for evaluating research to determine its trustworthiness, value and relevance using transparent methods to assess data in published research.

All workshops are virtual and take place 11 a.m.-noon.

March 19 — Introduction to Critical Appraisal
This essential introductory workshop is designed to sharpen participants’ abilities to evaluate medical research critically. Register online.

March 26 — Study Designs: Strengths and Weaknesses
This workshop will deepen participants’ understanding of research study designs and their implications in medical science. Register online.

April 9 — Assessing Risk of Bias
Participants will learn to elevate research evaluation skills and identify and assess bias in medical research. Register online.

April 23 — Statistical Analysis and Interpretation
Participants will unlock the power of statistics in medical research. Register online.

Details

Category: Announcements

During the last several years, the amount of scientific research data being published by universities, including UAB, has increased significantly due to a unique combination of new federal mandates and updates to publisher requirements. There has never been a centrally located resource available across the UAB enterprise to collect those datasets — until now, with the creation of the new Research Data Catalog from the Office of Scholarly Communication in UAB Libraries.

According to DataCite, a nonprofit organization that tracks research outputs, data publication has increased tenfold during the last decade.

From 2022 to 2023 alone, the number of newly registered DOIs — or unique strings of numbers and letters that identify documents like books, articles and government reports — in repositories tracked by the DataCite network grew from 7,745,931 to 18,049,694. That equals an increase of more than 10.3 million records in a single year.

Hosted in the UAB Digital Commons, the Research Data Catalog is an online collection of records describing datasets generated by UAB researchers; rather than directly including or storing datasets, the catalog functions as a directory to help users discover UAB-deposited datasets in external repositories like Zenodo and Dryad.

Before creating the catalog, the lack of a central repository to search across dataset records was a severe hindrance to data discovery at UAB, said Marla Hertz, research data management librarian for the OSC.

“A recent report from Digital Science on the state of open data showed that 75% of researchers feel they have received no support with planning, managing and sharing their research data,” Hertz explained. “The OSC helps bridge that gap. And anyone who's tried to locate the raw data underlying scientific research likely knows the pain that can come with that process. We desperately need better tools to make the discovery of data easier, and we think this new catalog is just the thing to do that.”

Currently, the catalog has more than 100 dataset records deposited in Dryad and Zenodo repositories by UAB researchers spanning from 2012-2024, as well as custom records for unique, UAB-exclusive datasets, such as data from the REGARDS study, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistics Center, and CFAR.

Who can use the catalog?

The catalog is available open access through the UAB Digital Commons, UAB’s digital repository maintained by UAB Libraries — meaning it is accessible to anyone, anytime, across the globe. However, several of UAB’s constituent groups could find the Research Data Catalog particularly useful, Hertz says.

• Researchers can find their own data in the catalog and identify collaborators and methodology expertise.
• Administrators can track and report on data outputs, plus monitor compliance to open data requirements.
• Educators can find and use datasets for course instruction.
• Students can explore different areas of research and identify experts in fields of interest.

“The data catalog has something for everyone,” Hertz explained. “I often hear from researchers who struggle to figure out where to preserve their data. They ask me, ‘Where do other people at UAB share their research data?’ Now you can figure it out by browsing through the new data catalog.”

Learn more about the new catalog in this webinar:
Where Does UAB Deposit Their Research Data? Enhancing Data Discovery with a New Data Catalog — 11 a.m. Feb. 11, register in advance

A framework for success

Creating and maintaining the Research Data Catalog was a key goal in UAB’s Research Strategic Initiative: Growth with Purpose, the enterprise’s road map to multiply the positive impact of our research and reach $1 billion in research expenditures. (Learn more about Growth with Purpose in a town hall scheduled March 19.) Hertz is a member of the initiative’s working group focused on research data management, co-chaired by Ralph Zottola, assistant vice president for Research Computing in UAB Information Technology, and Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics and interim chair in the Department of Health Behavior in the School of Public Health, the goal of which is to enhance research data management systems to support the growing research enterprise.

Going forward, the catalog will continue to be populated with records to datasets from Figshare and ICPSR, and the Office of Scholarly Communication is open to suggestions for other data repositories to prioritize; contact Marla Hertz mihertz@uab.edu or Amy Reese reesea@uab.edu with requests. A FAQ guide also is available.

The OSC team also will continue to add custom records for unique, large-scale UAB data projects, such as electronic medical record data discovery using DataLENS, and the i2b2 data discovery tool — both from UAB’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science — and more. The catalog also will update annually to add new records from the existing list of data repositories.

“The data catalog can help break down information silos across the UAB enterprise,” Hertz said. “We hope researchers use it as a networking opportunity to find collaborators and methodology experts.”

UAB researchers who have published datasets and would like their information included in the catalog can submit a dataset entry to the Research Data Catalog using this form.

Details

Category: Announcements

UAB-affiliated authors can publish open access in select Wiley gold and hybrid open access journals at no cost to the author through an ongoing read-and-publish agreement between Wiley and UAB Libraries.

Unlike traditional publishing systems, open access journals do not require a subscription to access paywalled resources; to offset that loss of revenue, most OA publications collect what is called an article processing charge (APC) in order to publish.

The average APC cost is just over $1,600, according to an article published earlier this year in Sci Ed, and UAB Libraries funds up to 100 Wiley APCs per year on a first-come, first-served basis. Since Jan. 1, 2023, UAB Libraries has saved more than $773,000 in APC fees for UAB authors via its agreement with Wiley.

“The Wiley agreement is one of the most significant ways UAB Libraries can equip our authors to publish open access,” said Jeff Gravline, J.D., associate dean for Research and Scholarly Communication and director of the Office of Scholarly Communication in UAB Libraries. “We’re excited to continue offering APC funding assistance for the third year running.”

After the cap is reached, UAB-affiliated authors remain eligible for a 15% discount on APCs when publishing open access with Wiley.
 

Get the details

To qualify for APC funding through UAB Libraries’ agreement with Wiley, authors must currently be affiliated with UAB and be either the lead or corresponding author on the article. Articles must be a Research Article, Review Article or a Case study, and it must have been accepted on or after Jan. 1, 2025. Authors also are limited to one funded APC per calendar year. Find additional details in this research guide.

More opportunities to publish open access

In addition to its agreement with Wiley, UAB Libraries also has read-and-publish agreements with Springer Nature, which has saved more than $397,00 for UAB authors since January 2024, and Cambridge Publishing, which has saved more than $100,000 for UAB authors since January 2021.

Two new agreements with Mary Ann Liebert Inc. and The Company of Biologists were launched in January 2025, and UAB also has ongoing agreements with IOP Publishing, the Association for Computing Machinery and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Learn more about open access publishing support through UAB Libraries in this research guide, and contact Graveline (jgraveli@uab.edu) in the Office of Scholarly Communication with questions.

Details

Category: Announcements

Two new read-and-publish agreements made between UAB Libraries and top journal publishers Mary Ann Liebert Inc. and The Company of Biologists will enable UAB authors to have their article processing fees (APCs) waived when publishing in select open access journals — meaning savings of around $1,600 per author per article.

Three previously established read-and-publish agreements with Wiley, Springer Nature, and Cambridge Publishing saved UAB authors more than $1.1 million in costs associated with open access publishing from 2021 through fall 2024.

“The addition of two new read-and-publish agreements is a huge step in expanding our commitment to open access publishing,” said Jeff Graveline, J.D., associate dean for Research and Scholarly Communication and director of the Office of Scholarly Communication in UAB Libraries. “When work by our authors is published open access, that means its available at no cost to anyone who wants to read it — enabling the work done here at UAB to be an even bigger part of research, education and health care on a global scale.”

Mary Ann Liebert Inc. is a global media company dedicated to creating, curating and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services to advance the fields of biotechnology and the life sciences, specialized clinical medicine, public health and policy, and technology and engineering. Under the new agreement, UAB authors may have their APC costs waived for any gold or hybrid open access journal published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc.

The Company of Biologists is a not-for-profit publishing organization dedicated to supporting and inspiring the biological community. Under the new agreement, UAB authors will not be charged an APC for publishing in any of the organization’s five journals: Development, Journal of Cell Science, Journal of Experimental Biology, Disease Models and Mechanisms, and Biology Open.

To qualify, authors must currently be affiliated with UAB, and articles must have been accepted on or after Jan. 1, 2025. See additional specific qualifications for Mary Ann Liebert and The Company of Biologists online, and learn more about open access publishing support through UAB Libraries in this research guide. Contact Graveline (jgraveli@uab.edu) in the Office of Scholarly Communication with questions.

Details

Category: Announcements

Data visualization — the representation of data through charts, plots, infographics, and other visual media — can be a powerful tool in communicating research to a variety of audiences.

In this three-workshop series, Ashley S. McGuire, STEM librarian and liaison to the School of Engineering and the Department of Chemistry for UAB Libraries, will introduce participants to all things data visualization for both quantitative and qualitative research.

All workshops take place noon-1 p.m. in Sterne 163; bring a laptop or borrow one from the HUB Desk or loaner kiosks. A Zoom option also has been added as of Feb. 3; registration is required for both in-person or virtual attendance.

Feb. 5 — Getting Started with Data Visualization: Tools for Research

McGuire will discuss choosing the right tools for representing various kinds of data, plus provide guided practice in creating a variety of data visualizations, from classic charts and graphs to more sophisticated, interactive media.

March 5 — Getting Started with Data Visualization: Elements of Visual Design

McGuire will share best practices and common pitfalls to ensure accuracy and clarity in data visualizations and for understanding audiences, selecting the right type of visualization for your data, and how to use your data to tell a story.

April 2 — GIS for Data Visualization

Guest speaker Ariann F. Nassal, director of Geospatial Data Visualization at the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, will give an introduction to geographic information systems and discuss tools available at UAB to create sophisticated visualization tools with your data.

Details

Category: Announcements

Employees and students interested in learning how to use UAB’s 3D printers can sign up for one of 10 upcoming training sessions offered by UAB Libraries this spring. Completing a training session is required before users can begin printing their own projects — but at just 1.5 hours long and offered both online and in-person, the rewards far outweigh the relatively small time investment, said Technology Labs Manager Patrick Boggs, who leads the training session.

“3D printing lets users be creative in so many ways,” Boggs said. “Lots of people print for fun — they make game figurines or intricate pots for plants, things like that — but what’s special about printing at UAB is that we’re uniquely placed to help with research and other campus initiatives.

“Folks at UAB have discovered really unique ways to incorporate 3D-printed items into their projects, like making molds for silicone tools used in heart research, or cases for GPS units the football team uses. The options really are endless.”

Sign up for a training that works for you

During the training, Blazers are given access to printer queues for both Sterne Library and Lister Hill Library 3D printing via 3DPrinterOS. 3DPrinterOS is a cloud-based system that lets users monitor the ongoing print queue to see when printers are available and check the progress of their jobs; several of the 3D printers managed in 3DPrinterOS have cameras attached so users can watch how their prints are coming along. Users also automatically receive a time-lapse video of their items being printed via email once the objects are complete.

Sessions continue through April 18; you also can find them on the Campus Calendar.

Introductory 3D Printer Training

• Feb. 6, noon-1:30 p.m., Lister Hill Library Virtual Reality Studio (110)
• Feb. 12, noon-1:30 p.m., LibLab (Sterne Library 112)
• Feb. 21, noon-1:30 p.m., virtual
• March 6, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
• March 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., virtual
• April 3, noon-1:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
• April 9, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m., LibLab (Sterne 112)
• April 18, noon-1:30 p.m., virtual

Introductory SLA 3D Printer Training

• Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)
• March 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LHL Virtual Reality Studio (110)

Details

Category: Announcements

Through a continued membership with Unity Academic Alliance, UAB students and employees can earn industry-recognized certifications in programming, artistry and game development from Unity, a real-time software development platform used to create content for virtual, augmented and mixed-reality, AI-driven simulations, and 2D and 3D video games.

The membership enables UAB students, faculty and staff to request no-cost, voucher-based access to Unity courseware, practice test content and certification exams. Available certifications include Certified Associate Programmer, Certified Associate Artist and Certified Associate Game Developer. Certification vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis; UAB’s Unity Academic Alliance membership will conclude when all vouchers are claimed.

“Unity developers remain in high demand in a variety of industry, from engineering, to film, to animation,” said Kevin Hebert, associate dean for Technology and Technical Services in UAB Libraries. “When we launched this program in spring 2024, we saw huge interest, so we know folks are interested in the skills these certifications encourage. We’re excited to offer it again and continue to support students as they combine what they learn in class with specific skills to develop portfolios for their post-graduation job search.”

Certified Associate Programmer

Learn to demonstrate core skills and competencies across programming, UI, debugging and asset management.

 

Certified Associate Artist

Get training in 2D and 3D artistry to prepare for jobs such as junior developer, junior artist, lighting and technical artist, content designer or quality assurance tester.

 

Certified Associate Game Developer

Learn to showcase core skills and concepts needed to develop video games, including animation, game design principles, programming and project management.

How to get started

Blazers can begin earning Unity certifications by requesting vouchers through the UAB Libraries partnership; remember, the number of certifications available is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once an employee or student has selected a learning pathway (Programmer, Artist or Game Developer), they can request courseware, practice test and certification exam vouchers through UAB Libraries.

Employees also can request Unity Academic Alliance member portal access to view curricular frameworks and other materials to support instruction and classroom use of Unity for different applications.

Visit the Unity Academic Alliance page in the Library Technology Labs research guide to learn more.

Details

Category: Announcements