The George A. Smathers Libraries are proud to announce that Dr. Francisca Javiera (Javi) Rudolph, Assistant University Librarian in the Academic Research Consulting and Services (ARCS) department, has been selected for the UF International Center’s 2026 Global Fellows Program. As the University of Florida’s first Computational Literacy Librarian, Dr. Rudolph leads an innovative program that connects the ecology of infectious disease research with expanding computational skills for researchers across disciplines. This pioneering role highlights the model of ARCS for how libraries can strengthen research infrastructure by embedding domain expertise directly into training and researcher support.
Dr. Rudolph’s research advances ecological theory and infectious disease modeling, focusing on how ecological change and wildlife movement shape zoonotic spillover risk. She develops computational frameworks that blend ecological theory and epidemiological data, producing models that help identify transmission pathways and potential intervention strategies. These models not only contribute to the scientific understanding of emerging diseases but also serve as real-world case studies that anchor computational literacy initiatives. By using her own research as a teaching backbone, Dr. Rudolph shows researchers how computational tools are built, validated, and applied to complex ecological problems. Her efforts support researchers at all levels, from undergraduates to faculty, collaborating and helping them build the technical skills necessary to conduct rigorous, computational research.
Through the Global Fellows Program, Dr. Rudolph will extend this model internationally. Her project will establish partnerships with institutions in Chile and Ecuador to co-develop computational literacy materials and support training grounded in ecological and disease-modeling research. These partnerships seek to democratize access to computational tools and supercomputing resources, while building sustainable networks for shared computational training. Dr. Rudolph’s selection to the program illustrates the impact of combining deep research expertise with the support and infrastructure of the Libraries to advance scientific understanding and train the next generation of computationally fluent researchers.