Meet two people who help navigate the fascinating but sometimes confusing paths of scholarly publishing: Lisa Schilhan and Christian Kaier, scholarly communication officers at the University Library!
We interviewed them for our series on interesting people at our university.
Lisa studied art history and trained as an academic librarian. Her career started at the department library of art history, after which she moved to the main library. When the big topic of Open Access arose in 2011, she was tasked to make a deep dive into scholarly communications, the OA Movement while also implementing an OA repository.
Her passion? Intricacies and diversity of publishing cultures + reputational mechanisms that play a role in building careers and how it all affects the development of the global publishing market!
Christian started out working for a book publisher, where he managed and developed a programme of academic and specialist literature for lawyers and law students. He has been part of the library's research and publication support team since 2015.
He aims to provide researchers with a sound understanding of the background and options of publishing research and to help them make good decisions.
At the University Library, they run the institutional repository, offer opportunities for self-archiving and publishing on local, globally networked infrastructures and support journal editors with the publication of their journals. Whenever time allows, they undertake small side quests and publish about their experiences, expertise and expeditions into research.
How is their work connected to postdoctoral researchers?
help with finding the right journal for publication
inform about quality aspects in publishing
help identify predatory journals
manage the university´s publication funds
offer support on questions relating to Open Access publishing as well as legal and licensing questions.
provide feedback on terms of publishing contracts and advise on strategies for visibility
inform on the effects of AI on scholarly publishing
Meet Lisa and Christian:
Discussion on the future of scholarly publishing and research assessment with both established and early career researchers on June 5, 2025.
Please find further information at: https://ub.uni-graz.at/de/beratung-kurse/kurse-veranstaltungen/wissenschaftliches-publizieren-forschungsdatenmanagement/?esraSoftIdva=622705
They are also available via email, phone or in person on the 3rd floor of the University Library.