Yale Library is piloting an AI Lab through its Data and Research Innovation division, offering one-on-one consultations and instruction for staff, students and scholars seeking help with digital and data-driven research. The program is designed to pair AI literacy and emerging-model guidance with practical support for planning projects and choosing tools.
Key facts
- The AI Lab will provide one-on-one consultations and instruction for staff, students and scholars.
- Consultants will advise on AI literacy, new models and workflows, project planning, and tool selection.
- Two graduate student consultants will support the program in the fall, with two more joining in the spring.
- The pilot will help Yale Library and its partners identify where students and faculty need AI support most.
What the AI Lab means for students and researchers
Students and scholars will have a new point of contact for assistance with AI-related research questions, from foundational literacy to project workflows. When a question needs more specialized expertise, AI Lab consultants will connect researchers with relevant librarians and campus experts.
For graduate students, the pilot also creates consultant opportunities. Applications are open to candidates from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and other graduate programs. Two consultants are planned for the fall semester and two additional graduate student consultants for the spring.
What will the Yale Library AI Lab offer?
The Yale Library AI Lab will offer individual consultations and instruction for digital and data-driven research, along with guidance on AI literacy, newer models and workflows. Consultants will also provide hands-on help with project planning and selecting tools, while referring specialized needs to appropriate library and campus partners.
The program sits within Yale Library’s Data and Research Innovation division. Its consultants will serve as liaisons with subject librarians and experts at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning, the StatLab, DHLab, Yale Center for Research Computing, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library and other research centers across campus.
How the pilot will build campus AI support
Yale Library plans to hire a research technologist to supervise the consultants and help shape the library’s future plans. Members of the Computational Methods and Data team will work with that technologist to develop staff and direct the AI Lab’s work.
Those team members are Ted Ellsworth, manager of Statistical Support Services at the Yale Library StatLab; Digital Humanities Librarian Jordan Bratt; and Research Data Management Librarian Brandon Miliate.
Information gathered during the pilot year will help the library and its partners determine where students and faculty need the most AI support, and how resources and expertise can be distributed in the future to meet those needs. The initiative is part of Yale Library’s broader work supporting ethical and effective AI use in research, teaching and learning.
Frequently asked questions
Who can use the Yale Library AI Lab?
The program is intended for Yale Library staff, students and scholars who want assistance with digital and data-driven research.
What kinds of help can AI Lab consultants provide?
Consultants can provide guidance on foundational AI literacy, newer models and workflows, project planning, and selecting tools. They can also connect researchers with specialized library and campus expertise when needed.
Who can apply to be a graduate student consultant?
Applications are open to candidates from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and other graduate programs. The pilot plans for two graduate student consultants in the fall and two more in the spring.
