UA’s Scalfani Named ‘Mover and Shaker’ by Library Journal

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Dr. Vincent Scalfani was recently named one of 2014’s “movers and shakers” by the Library Journal.

Scalfani, UA science and engineering librarian for the Rodgers Library, collaborated with Drs. Stephan A. Ohnmacht and Stephen Neidle, professor, both researchers at the School of Pharmacy at University College London in the UK, to convert laboratory X-ray crystallography data of a G-quadruplex molecule, and the drug targeting it, into a 3D digital model suitable for 3D printing.

The model is potentially a leap forward in the fight against cancer.

With a doctorate in chemistry from Colorado State University, Scalfani has been able to share his love of the research end of the scientific process through a career in librarianship. He told Library Journal that he is “immersed in the research process, research data, and scientific literature” and has the “opportunity to teach others how the library is a crucial component and partner in their research.”

Scalfani says his work as a leader in the UA 3D printing lab is to help students learn — and sometimes learn the hard way.

“I did not want to simply have the library print objects for students; I wanted the library to teach students how to print objects themselves,” Scalfani told Library Journal. “This allows students to learn from experimentation — and learn … that it is okay to try something and fail.”

The 2014 list of “movers and shakers” recognizes 50 librarians across the United States with a passion to meet the needs of patrons as libraries continue to evolve in the digital age.