Introduction: Talat Chaudhri

Talat Chaudhri works as a research officer within the ISC. In this role, Talat’s primary responsibility is to develop the Technical Foundations Web site for the JISC, which provides accessible, cutting-edge, cross-sector synthesis on a range of technical subjects for the JISC community. This work includes technical development on a Drupal platform as well as editorial control over the content of the site. On the content side, this includes writing topic pages, blog posts and other technical synthesis where these fall within his specific expertise, and otherwise commissioning content and assisting contributors. He is currently developing a robust quality assurance process, including feedback and review mechanisms, in order to consult the leading technical experts in particular topic areas and to ensure that the technical content of the site remains up-to-date.

Talat has a background in institutional repositories and metadata, as a former repository manager in Aberystwyth University, and has experience of repository strategy, policy, copyright issues and licencing. He has developed his interest in Current Research Information Systems (CRIS) and Research Information Management (RIM) further since he joined UKOLN in 2008, particularly in 2010-11 when he worked on the CERIFy project.

At present, Talat is part of the Researcher IDs Task and Finish Group, along with Brian Kelly, on which the UKOLN ISC provides support to the JISC. The group is due to report in early 2012 on a UK-wide strategy for unique researcher identifiers; it currently includes representatives of the JISC, the UKOLN ISC, the UK Research Councils and HESA, and is also in dialogue with HEFCE and the Wellcome Trust. This role has links with Talat’s role in developing the Technical Foundations Web site and his wider experience in Research Information Management and institutional repositories.

From 2008 to 2010, Talat worked on the Application Profiles Support Project. He is co-moderator of the Dublin Core Scholarly Communications community with Rosemary Russell, and is on the Dublin Core Advisory Board. He is also a member of the JISC Observatory team.