Jillian Amaral‘s journey to becoming the MCB Reference, Collections, and Instruction Librarian is a testament to her passion for science and her dedication to helping others navigate the vast world of scientific information. Her path is marked by a deep-seated love for science, a career that spans both laboratory and library settings, and a commitment to lifelong learning and teaching.
From a young age, Jillian was captivated by the wonders of science. “I knew I wanted to do science,” she recalls, “I just wasn’t sure what with science.” This curiosity led her to pursue a biology major with a chemistry minor at Mount Holyoke College in Western Massachusetts. Her academic journey was driven by a desire to explore the intricacies of the natural world, a passion that would later shape her professional life.
The Transition from Lab to Library
After graduation, Jillian spent seven years working as a lab technician in both academic labs and pharmaceutical companies. However, it was during this time that she realized her true calling was not just in conducting experiments but in helping others find the information they needed to succeed in their scientific endeavors. Her transition from the lab to the library was sparked by a conversation with her now-spouse, who asked her what she would do if money were no object. “I’d be a science reference librarian,” Jillian replied, much to her spouse’s surprise.
She recalls that when she was in school in the 90s, the belief was that librarians were no longer going to be necessary. “It was the dawn of the internet, and librarians were going to be phased out,” she says with a smile. But after attending an information session at Simmons University she realized that was far from true. “People needed help even more than ever, to navigate the amount of information, and this is, way before the kind of acknowledgment of fake information and disinformation, but just information in general.”
Spurred by this exciting insight, Jillian eventually enrolled in the master’s library program at Simmons University while still working full-time. Eventually, she transferred from the lab to the library at her pharmaceutical company. Over several years, she navigated through the corporate challenges of mergers and layoffs. Despite these hurdles, Jillian’s passion for science and information management never waned. She later transitioned to academia, working as a science librarian at Wheaton College and then Wellesley College. It was at Wellesley that a job posting at Harvard caught her eye. “When I read the job description, I was like, Is this a joke? This is everything I love!” she recalls. The opportunity to work at Harvard, in a field she was passionate about, was too good to pass up.
Focused on MCB Researchers
Since joining Harvard in October 2024, Jillian has been dedicated to supporting the MCB community. Her role involves helping students and researchers navigate the sometimes overwhelming amount of scientific information available. “Most people don’t always understand how much I can help them,” she admits, “but given all of the intricacies of certain databases, I’m able to find things that maybe they don’t even know are indexed.” In addition to teaching scientists how to effectively search databases, manage their research, and set up alerts for new publications in their fields of interest, Jillian’s role in MCB includes teaching undergraduates information literacy, showing them how to evaluate information and recognize mis- and disinformation. “I also answer reference questions as part of the Ernst Mayr Library, and hold 1-1 consultations on a variety of topics with scholars at all levels.” She also purchases materials in MCB relevant topics for the Library and evaluates existing materials for relevancy.
Jillian’s expertise is particularly valuable in an academic setting where the sheer volume of information can be daunting. “Trying to find things is kind of like drinking from a fire hose,” she explains. Her ability to guide students and researchers through this deluge of data is a crucial part of her role.
One of Jillian’s favorite aspects of her job is the opportunity to teach and collaborate with others. “I love the collaboration and learning between librarians and scholars,” she says. Her work is not just about providing information but also about empowering others to become more effective researchers. Whether helping a student with their thesis or setting up alerts for a principal investigator, Jillian is committed to supporting the MCB community.
As an example, one of her first initiatives will be a one-hour, hands-on workshop on February 28 at 3 PM as part of MCB’s Career Development Series. Titled A Scholar’s Digital Footprint – Tips for using Scholarly Sites (like ORCiD, PubMed, Web of Science) and Social Networks (like LinkedIn, X, BlueSky) for Professional Purposes, the workshop’s intent is to help all scientists (undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, research staff, and faculty) understand where they can set up professional profiles, and how to link their scholarly works to their profiles.
“I designed this workshop because I recognized that students and postdocs may not be aware of their scholarly digital footprint and how to integrate various aspects of it,” Jillian adds. Register here for the workshop.
This workshop will just be the first of several to follow, including topics on wrangling literature and citations for theses or dissertations, and data management in collaboration with the science data librarian, Ehsan Moghadam. For questions related to the workshop or to suggest workshop topics,
please click here to send email.
Life Beyond the Library
Beyond her professional life, Jillian is an avid traveler, visiting places like Iceland and Portugal with her family. Her love for travel reflects her curiosity and desire to explore new cultures and experiences. She also enjoys archery, a hobby she shares with her wife and teenage child. Additionally, Jillian is a creative soul who engages in textile crafts such as needle felting and quilting. Her involvement as a Girl Scout leader for over a decade speaks to her commitment to community and mentorship.
She and her spouse have been together for over two decades, and they have a 17-year-old child who recently got their driver’s license. “We survived it,” she jokes, highlighting the everyday challenges and joys of family life. Her two Siamese cats add to their household, each with their own distinct personalities.
As Jillian continues to make her mark at Harvard, she remains dedicated to helping others succeed in their scientific pursuits. Her role as the MCB librarian allows her to blend her love for science with her skills in information management and teaching. She is particularly excited about upcoming projects, such as a career development workshop for graduate students. “I want to help students understand their professional presence,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of managing one’s digital footprint in today’s academic and professional landscape.
Jillian’s story is one of following one’s passion and finding a niche that combines multiple interests. She views her work not just as a job but as a calling that allows her to make a meaningful impact on the academic community. As she continues to support students and researchers, we are thrilled Jillian is here as a vital resource.
Welcome Jillian!
