Kelli Trei is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign biosciences librarian and an associate professor at the University Library. She serves as a liaison for students and scholars in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, School of Integrative Biology, and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. An alumna of the School of MCB, Trei spoke with Quang Nguyen, PhD student in molecular and integrative physiology, about her journey from bench science to librarianship.

As an undergraduate at UIUC, Trei initially majored in animal sciences and conducted research in the lab of Professor Roderick Mackie, who studies the animal gut microbiome. Over the course of her undergraduate career, her interest in microbiology grew and ultimately, she switched to majoring in microbiology. In addition to pursuing her research interests in Professor Mackie’s lab, Trei worked at the National Soybean Research Laboratory and as head student librarian at the residence hall library in Allen Hall, a living-learning residential community on campus.

After graduation, Trei became a bench scientist at Archer Daniels Midland Company in Decatur. During her 14 years at ADM, she was involved in the development of many projects such as amino acids production (specifically, lysine) and yeast production of ethanol. Along the way she also co-wrote a book chapter about biofuel production and received two patents about lysine production. While she enjoyed the work, her perspective on laboratory research at the industry level shifted as she realized an industry scientist’s research projects and priorities can change when the company’s goals and priorities change.

At the time, she was volunteering as a member of the Friends of the Decatur Public Library Board to help run book sales and fundraising events to support the library. The librarians there recognized her enthusiasm and suggested she become a librarian.

Enter the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences. Its online degree program, called Leep, allowed Trei to pursue her MS in Library and Information Science while continuing to work full time at the company.

“I really enjoyed working in a lab, but I also became fascinated by how scientists find, use, and share information,” she said.

During her librarianship training, which included a practicum at the Decatur Public Library, Trei initially thought she would become a young adult librarian.

“What appealed to me about being a young adult librarian was that I like to work with younger people who are really passionate about information. I realized that [science] undergraduate students are also passionate,” she said.

As a graduate student at UIUC, Trei participated in a collection development project with Susan Braxton, the Prairie Research Institute Librarian. Trei credits Braxton with suggesting she consider a career in science librarianship.

When she was an undergraduate student, there were a lot of discussions in the scientific community, the public, and media about the use of bovine somatotropin, a growth hormone, to increase milk production in cows. At the same time, there were larger discussions about the safety of the meat and dairy products from treated cows. Ultimately, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the growth hormone.

“I was watching how these groups—scientists and members of the general public—interacted with each other. Science communication became something that I was fascinated by,” Trei said.

In time, she realized that she wanted to develop a career where she could support the pursuit of and dissemination of scientific research and build a bridge between experts and the public with scientific literacy.

The biology librarian position at the U of I was posted soon after Trei graduated from the iSchool. She leapt at the opportunity.

In her multifaceted position, Trei talks one-on-one with students and faculty about their research needs. She develops the biological sciences collection by purchasing books, subscribing to journals, and maintaining databases. In recent years, more and more specialized databases have become available via subscriptions.

“I love when students or professors ask me to buy things because I gain a lot of information that I didn't previously have.”

Because she is a faculty member, Trei also serves on campus and departmental committees to discuss the future of the library and campus as a whole. A big component of her job is conducting research, and her research helps her to become a better librarian while discovering what science students need to serve them well.

“My research is focused on what skills scientists need to be successful and more recently what scientific information literacy skills newer scientists may be missing,” she said.

“On a broader scale, I seek to help folks disseminate information in a way that people can trust and understand it. I became a librarian in an effort to serve the science, scientists, and those who seek scientific information,” Trei added.