Z39.50 Interoperability Testbed Research Assistantships Available

Graduate Research Assistantships Available for Z39.50 Interoperability
Testbed Project 

* Pursue a Masters or Ph.D. degree, or a Certificate of Advanced Study!  
** Be paid to participate in a dynamic research team!
*** Position your career in networked information retrieval!

Funded by a generous grant from the U.S. federal Institute of Museum and
Library Services (IMLS), four Graduate Research Assistantships are
available at the University of North Texas, School of Library &
Information Sciences for students pursuing a Master of Science, a
Certificate of Advanced Studies, or a Ph.D. degree in information
science. 

Graduate Research Assistants will participate in a major research and
demonstration project, "Realizing the Vision of Networked Access to
Library Resources: An Applied Research and Demonstration Project to
Establish and Operate a Z39.50 Interoperability Testbed".  The project
is funded by IMLS.  Partners in the project are SIRSI Corporation and
OCLC, The Online Computer Library Center.  The complete project proposal
is available on the project's website: <http://www.unt.edu/zinterop>.
The Z39.50 Interoperability Testbed (Z-Interop) Research Assistants
begin work on the project in January, 2001 with project completion
scheduled for Summer 2002 (20 months).

The project will 1) produce a model for interoperability testbeds that
can be used by other communities (e.g., museums); and 2) develop and
demonstrate rigorous methodologies, test scenarios and procedures to
measure and assess the extent of interoperability between Z39.50
implementations with the goal of improving semantic interoperability. 

To achieve these project goals, we are looking for Z-Interop Research
Assistants who are:

-- Self-motivated 
-- Able to work collaboratively while being self-directed and
self-managed 
-- Excellent communicators 
-- Willing to learn, discover, and teach others 
-- Critical thinkers and problem solvers 
-- Competent and comfortable with information technology.

If this describes you, consider applying for one of the Z-Interop
Research Assistantships!

Each Assistantship provides financial support totaling over $17,000 that
includes:

-- A Tuition Scholarship for up to 36 credit hours of graduate studies 
(which qualifies your for in-state tuition rates!)
-- A Project Stipend of approximately $600/month for 15 hours/week work
on project activities.

Applicants must: 

-- Complete an online application form available at: 
<http://www.unt.edu/zinterop/ApplicationForm.htm> or link to the 
application form from the UNT/SLIS website at: <www.unt.edu/slis>. 
-- Submit your online application form no later than November 15, 2000. 
-- Apply to and be admitted by the UNT Graduate School and the School
of Library & Information Sciences (if not currently a UNT graduate 
student). For online application forms, go to: 
<http://www.unt.edu/slis/apppacket/>. 

Research Assistants will be notified no later than December 1, 2000.

The Z-Interop Research Assistants will work as part of a project team
under the direction of the Principal Investigator, Dr. William E. Moen
<http://www.unt.edu/wmoen>.  Research Assistants will be involved in all
aspects of the project including publications and presentations based on
the research.

As a Z-Interop Research Assistant, you will have the opportunity to work
with and/or develop Linux, Solaris, and NT operating systems
applications; Z39.50 clients and servers; information retrieval systems;
a commercial integrated library system; data analysis tools; OCLC's
WorldCat MARC21 records; and other hardware and software tools.  You
will also have opportunities to work with technical and research staff
of the two collaborating partners in the study, SIRSI Corporation
<www.sirsi.com> and OCLC <www.oclc.org>.   

Additional details about the Z-Interop Research Assistantships can be
found at: <http://www.unt.edu/zinterop/CallForApplications.htm>

We look forward to hearing from you!  The online application form must
submitted no later than November 15, 2000 for notification by December
1, 2000.  

If you have questions about the project or the Z-Interop Research
Assistantships, contact:

Dr. William E. Moen
Website: <http://www.unt.edu/wmoen>
Email: <wemoen@unt.edu>
Voice: 940-565-3563
Fax: 940-565-3101
School of Library and Information Sciences
University of North Texas
PO Box 311068
Denton, TX  76203-1068