Series:
The Informed Researcher: Library Workshops for Biomedical Scientists & Physicians

About the series: This workshop series will focus on faculty and staff at SOM, emphasizing how the library and its many resources fit into their research lifecycle. The workshops will run monthly from July to November on the third Thursday of each month from 4pm to 5pm and will be hosted on Webex. Webex information will be provided upon registration.

Register for any or all of the workshops in this series

Workshops:

1. Navigating the Publishing Landscape: Open Access Opportunities & Predatory Pitfalls
7/17/25 
Presented by: Lisa Price

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• List the advantages of Open Access publishing
• Identify at least three tools that can help with selecting reputable Open Access journals
• Describe common characteristics of predatory publishers/publications
• Explain the impact that publishing in a predatory journal can have on you, the University, and your field of study.
• Name at least two tools that can help identify predatory publishers/publications

Description:
The growing trend of Open Access publishing in academic scholarship can benefit both Rowan researchers and Rowan University. Unfortunately, poor quality journals – better known as predatory publications – have also discovered they can profit from scholars’ desire to publish their work, causing negative impacts on the researcher, their university and their field of study. This workshop will introduce tools to find quality journals where attendees can submit their manuscripts as well as describe how to identify and avoid predatory publishers.

2. Strategic Publishing: Leveraging Read & Publish Agreements to Maximize Your Research Availability
8/21/25
Presented by: Benjamin Saracco MLS, MAIT, Scholarly Publishing & Open Research Librarian, Associate Professor, Rowan University Libraries

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the current scholarly publishing landscape, identifying key challenges and opportunities in open access publishing for academic and research faculty.
• Evaluate Rowan University Libraries' Read and Publish agreements, understanding how these partnerships facilitate cost-free open access publishing and maximize research dissemination.

Description:
Scholarly publishing plays a crucial role in a faculty member’s academic and research journey. As digital and open access publishing continue to evolve, it is essential to understand open access within the broader changes in scholarly communication. This workshop will explore the current challenges in the publishing landscape, the various pathways to open access, and, most importantly, how Read and Publish agreements provide Rowan authors with new publishing opportunities. Attendees will gain insight into how these agreements, facilitated by Rowan University Libraries, enable faculty to both access and publish open access research without additional costs, expanding the reach and impact of their work.

3. Beyond Basic Searches: Advanced Techniques for Research Excellence
9/18/25
Presented by: Mercedes Byrd

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Construct advanced search strategies in Scopus and Web of Science using field codes and Boolean operators to retrieve more precise research results
• Utilize citation analysis tools to identify seminal works and emerging research trends in their specific field
• Create personalized research alerts and saved search strategies to maintain awareness of new publications

Description:
Elevate your research capabilities beyond PubMed! This interactive virtual workshop introduces medical faculty to the powerful search capabilities of Scopus and Web of Science - two essential databases often underutilized in medical research. Learn advanced search techniques, citation analysis strategies, and personalized alert features that will transform your literature review process and help you stay at the forefront of your field. Whether you're conducting clinical research, basic science investigations, or interdisciplinary studies, these tools will help you discover connections and resources you might otherwise miss.

4. Hidden Power Tools: Browser Extensions Every Researcher Should Know
10/16/25
Presented by: Steve Garwood, EdD, Director of Faculty Development 

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe browser plugins 
• Explain how browser plugins can make library research more efficient
• Describe how to install and use three library-recommended browser plugins

Description:
Learn about browser plugins, also known as browser extensions.  These are small programs that add functionality to a browser.  Explore several browser plugins that you can use to help you in your library research. These extensions facilitate access to articles and content subscribed to by Rowan University Libraries and Open Access sources and can aid with the citation process.

5. Your Research Signature: Using ORCID to Amplify Your Research Visibility
11/20/25 
Presented by: Kevin Block (Tentative)

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of an ORCID
• Recognize the importance of having an ORCID
• Create an ORCID and connect it with your Rowan NetID 
• Add their research and scholarship to their ORCID profile

Description:
ORCIDs (Open Researcher and Contributor Identifiers) are useful to anyone who participates in research, scholarship, and innovation. An ORCID helps to uniquely identify and connect researchers to their contributions and affiliations across time, disciplines, and borders. Increasingly, they are required by external funders and publishers. Rowan University is an institutional ORCID member, making it easy to create a profile that allows Rowan-Virtua SOM faculty to associate their research and scholarship with their Rowan affiliation. In this workshop, attendees will learn more about ORCIDs and the benefits to having one.

Register for any or all of the workshops in this series