Dr. Priya Vaidya is an accomplished Library and Information Science (LIS) academic, researcher, educator, and information professional with expertise in scholarly communication, information literacy, artificial intelligence applications in libraries, qualitative research methodologies, and digital library services. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Library and Information Science (School of Social Sciences and Languages), Lovely Professional University, and is concurrently affiliated with the University's Central Library.

Her professional journey reflects a unique combination of academia, research, and development sector leadership. Prior to her current position, she served as Senior Program Leader at the Piramal Foundation (technical partner of NITI Aayog), contributing to national educational and capacity-building initiatives. She has also worked as an Assistant Professor in a Government Aided College, Jalna, and gained extensive professional experience at the Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University, where she contributed to library automation and collection development. Additionally, she serves as a MAXQDA Professional Trainer and has been serving as a Mendeley Advisor since 2025, promoting advanced qualitative research methodologies and research management practices among researchers and faculty.

Research Contributions

Dr. Vaidya has established herself as a leading researcher in Library and Information Science with over 22 scholarly publications, including research articles, books, and book chapters published in prestigious Scopus, Web of Science (ESCI), and UGC-CARE indexed journals.

Her research spans diverse emerging areas including:

• Certified by Microsoft Learn in AI for Educators, Elevate Educator Explorer (AI), and Elevate Educator Expert (AI), showcasing expertise in integrating AI into education

  In addition to MAXQDA Professional Trainer, She have been serving as a Mendeley Advisor since 2025

• Artificial Intelligence in Libraries and Education
• Information Literacy and Scholarly Communication
• Social Media and Misinformation
• Library Service Quality Assessment
• Disaster Preparedness in Libraries
• Academic Social Networking
• Scientometrics and Bibliometrics
• Digital Libraries and Information Services
• Research Collaboration and Open Knowledge Systems

Her recent work on AI integration in education, ChatGPT adoption, information literacy, and misinformation awareness demonstrates her commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in information science.

Awards & Academic Recognition

Dr. Priya Vaidya has received numerous prestigious recognitions throughout her academic career, including:

• Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (2024)
• Microsoft Certified Educator (2023)
• Certified by Microsoft Learn in AI for Educators, Elevate Educator Explorer (AI), and Elevate Educator Expert (AI), showcasing expertise in integrating AI into education
• Women Researcher Award (International Research Awards 2023)
• Best Research Paper Award (ICSSR Sponsored International Conference, 2022)
• All India Best Student Paper Award (KELPRO, 2021)
• University Grants Commission Junior Research Fellowship (UGC-JRF)
• University Medal and Asghar Ali Mardan Ali Memorial Medal for academic excellence
• University Merit Financial Award from Aligarh Muslim University
• Best SIG-IEP Logo Award by ASIS&T

These recognitions reflect her excellence in research, innovation, teaching, and professional leadership.

Professional Leadership & Academic Service

Dr. Vaidya is actively involved in international professional organizations and has held several elected leadership positions within the Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T). She has served as Chair-Elect, Past-Chair, Secretary, and Executive Committee member across multiple Special Interest Groups, demonstrating her leadership within the global Library and Information Science community.

She has presented research at numerous national and international conferences, including IFLA, ASIS&T, ICDL, ICAL, and IATLIS conferences, contributing significantly to global scholarly discussions in information science.

Teaching, Training & Capacity Building

An enthusiastic educator inspired by the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Dr. Vaidya emphasizes innovative pedagogy, digital learning, and research-oriented education. She has trained students, faculty, and researchers in qualitative data analysis using MAXQDA, research methodologies, scholarly communication, and emerging technologies. Her expertise in Microsoft 365 applications, statistical software, and educational technologies further strengthens her contributions to higher education.

Areas of Expertise

• Library & Information Science
• Information Literacy
• Scholarly Communication
• Artificial Intelligence in Libraries
• Qualitative Research Methods
• MAXQDA & Research Analytics
• Bibliometrics & Scientometrics
• Library Automation
• Research Data Management
• Digital Libraries
• Academic Social Networking
• Research Methodology

Professional Impact

Through her interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching practices, and international professional engagement, Dr. Priya Vaidya has significantly contributed to advancing Library and Information Science education and research. Her work bridges traditional librarianship with emerging digital technologies, making her a recognized scholar in AI-enabled information services, scholarly communication, and information literacy.

Eligibility for Women Researcher Award

Dr. Priya Vaidya is highly deserving of the Women Researcher Award under the Scientific Laurels in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements, impactful research contributions, innovative educational practices, and leadership in Library and Information Science. Her impressive record of high-quality international publications, prestigious awards, professional leadership in global organizations, commitment to research excellence, and dedication to empowering future researchers through teaching and training make her an exceptional candidate for this prestigious honor. Her sustained contributions to advancing information science through innovation, artificial intelligence, scholarly communication, and educational excellence exemplify the qualities celebrated by the Scientific Laurels Women Researcher Award.