Global Fellow Builds Computational Research Connections in Chile

Ecologists can collect extraordinary amounts of data about ecosystems, biodiversity and disease. But turning that data into knowledge requires computational skills, tools and infrastructure that are not equally accessible.

For Javiera Rudolph, Ph.D., a computational disease ecologist and UF’s pioneering Computational Literacy Librarian, closing that gap means rethinking the role academic libraries can play in research. 

“My goal is to transform how the libraries support computational research, moving beyond traditional information services to become key partners in research and capacity building,” Rudolph said. 

Through the UF International Center’s Global Fellows Program, Rudolph is taking that vision beyond UF, developing partnerships to strengthen computational literacy in ecology and the life sciences in Latin America while creating new opportunities for research and training at UF.

From a Plan to Partnerships

At the Global Fellows Final Symposium, Rudolph presented an ambitious proposal: “Building Computational Ecology Infrastructure Beyond Data Extraction.” Her vision combined computational training, shared infrastructure, virtual exchange and collaborative research opportunities with Latin American partners.

This summer, she began moving that plan from paper to practice. With support from the Global Fellows Program, Rudolph traveled to Chile to meet researchers, present her work and explore opportunities for computational training and joint grants. She visited Universidad Austral de Chile and Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB), where conversations helped her better understand what international collaborators need to strengthen computational research and develop joint proposals.

Building Capacity on Both Sides

Rudolph's goal is not simply to transfer computational tools from UF to international partners. She envisions reciprocal collaborations in which institutions contribute different strengths.

Latin American partners bring deep knowledge of local ecosystems, field research expertise and valuable datasets from globally significant environments such as the Amazon. UF brings computational expertise, training and infrastructure that can help researchers work with complex ecological data. Together, those resources could support joint research, publications and funding proposals while strengthening computational skills among researchers and students.

The collaboration benefits UF by connecting faculty and students with new datasets, field expertise, and research questions, while helping Rudolph develop training materials, workflows, and approaches that can be adapted for the UF research community. At UF, Rudolph uses a train-the-trainer approach that equips researchers to bring computational practices back to their own labs and students. Her international collaboration extends that same philosophy across borders. 

Creating Infrastructure for Lasting Collaboration

The Chile trip was an early step in a larger vision. Rudolph plans to continue developing international partnerships around shared computational resources, collaborative research, and joint funding, with the long-term goal of positioning UF Libraries as a hub for computational ecology research and training connecting UF with institutions across Latin America.

“The Global Fellows program was not only crucial for providing financial support for these initial trips, but it also offered valuable workshops that enhanced my training and development of my international program,” Rudolph said. “This opportunity is helping me advance my career by establishing me as a leader in computational literacy education at UF and in Latin America.”

By providing seed funding, professional development and opportunities to build international relationships, the Global Fellows Program gives UF faculty space to test ideas, learn from partners and build the foundation for longer-term collaborations.

_{Global Fellow Javi Rudolph with her collaborator Claudio Azat of Universidad Andrés Bello
during her Global Fellows trip to Chile.}