School of Information Professor Dr. Paul Marty is one of several CCI faculty members who have been recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists based on their number of citations. Read on to learn more about Dr. Marty’s research and his advice to student researchers.

At his heart, Marty is an interdisciplinary researcher. His research specializes in studying museum computing, the evolving roles of technology professionals in museums, and the use of digital museum resources by museum visitors. “I am most proud of my publications that shine a light on the invisible, unseen, and all-too-often unsupported work of museum technology professionals,” said Marty. “What I find most rewarding about my research is the knowledge that it makes a difference in the lives of museum technology professionals working in museums today.”

Marty jokes that he stumbled into his field by accident. “I was working in a world cultures museum building databases and digitizing their collections when I learned that there was an entire discipline out there that had dedicated literal centuries to studying all those questions about data science and information organization. So I jumped into that discipline feet first, looking for answers to my research questions, and I never looked back.”

His advice to doctoral students who are engaged in research is to embrace but recognize the challenges of interdisciplinary work. “The student working in an interdisciplinary field like information science needs to be prepared for that extra effort,” said Marty. “But if they can put in that work, the potential to effect change across disciplinary boundaries is tremendous and truly transformative.”

CCI congratulates Dr. Marty on his incredible achievement, as well as the other recognized faculty members, including Dr. Hugh Catts, Dr. Melissa Gross, Dr. Art Raney, and Dr. Besiki Stvilia.