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As Head of Sciences for the Libraries, Jennifer Simms (formerly Laherty) is responsible for managing the Libraries’ Sciences Department and developing priorities in responding to the information and data needs of scientists at IU Bloomington. She also serves as liaison to faculty and students in the Biology, Chemistry, and Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry departments, and manages library collections in those areas. Her research interests include preservation and access to scientific data and resulting publications generated by researchers at IUB, and developing and maintaining format-agnostic collections to support science research and teaching. Her current projects include the Imago Biocollections repository.

Jennifer frequently speaks on topics related to her research. She has recently presented on projects at national and international venues, including: “Jetstream – In production & supporting science: Available to everyone (including you, engineers! And you too, anyone with a biological collection)” (with Craig A. Stewart and David Y. Hancock, presented at SuperComputing 16, Salt Lake City, UT in 2016); “Partnering to Create Repository Infrastructure for Biodiversity Big Data” (with Eric B. Knox and Gary J. Motz, presented at the Physical Samples, Digital Collections Workshop, Copenhagen, Denmark in 2016); “Boundless Use of Indiana University’s Biological Research Collections Possible in Partnership with IU Libraries” (with Gary J. Motz, presented at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Satellite Workshop, Chicago, IL in 2016). She also teaches an undergraduate course on “Research Methods Across the Disciplines.”

Jennifer received her MLS in 1995, and her BA in Comparative Literature in 1994, both from IU Bloomington. Prior to taking on her current role, she served from 2007-2014 as Digital Publishing Librarian. Before joining the IU Libraries she served as Head of Collection Development and Acquisitions, Sciences Librarian, and Government Information Librarian at California State University, East Bay.