Research Data Management Support Research Articles

Research data management for libraries: getting started

Many libraries are keen to take on new roles in providing support for effective research data management (RDM), but lack the necessary skills and resources to do so. This article explores the approach used by the University of Sussex to engage with academic departments about their RDM practices and requirements in order to develop relevant library support services. It describes a project undertaken with three Academic Schools to inform a list of recommendations for senior management, to include areas which should be taken forward by the Library, IT and Research Office in order to create a sustainable RDM service. The article is unflinchingly honest in sharing the differing reactions to the project and the lessons learnt along the way.

Library Research Support in Queensland: A Survey

University libraries worldwide are reconceptualising the ways in which they support the research agenda in their respective institutions. This paper is based on a survey completed by member libraries of the Queensland University Libraries Office of Cooperation (QUL OC), the findings of which may be informative for other university libraries. After briefly examining major emerging trends in research support, the paper discusses the results of the survey specifically focussing on support for researchers and the research agenda in their institutions. All responding libraries offer a high level of research support, however, eResearch support, in general, and research data management support, in particular, have the highest variance among the libraries, and signal possible areas for growth. Areas for follow-up, benchmarking and development are suggested.

Research management team (RMT): a model for research support services at Duke University.

Collecting and managing data for clinical and translational research presents significant challenges for clinical and translational researchers, many of whom lack needed access to data management expertise, methods, and tools. At many institutions, funding constraints result in differential levels of research informatics support among investigators. In addition, the lack of widely shared models and ontologies for clinical research informatics and health information technology hampers the accurate assessment of investigators' needs and complicates the efficient allocation of crucial resources for research projects, ultimately affecting the quality and reliability of research. In this paper, we present a model for providing flexible, cost-efficient institutional support for clinical and translational research data management and informatics, the research management team, and describe our initial experiences with deploying this model at our institution.

Electronic identification-based Web 2.0 application for plant pathology purposes

In order to integrate Web-based tools in plant pathology for storing, updating and sharing information, an electronic identification system based on radiofrequency technology was used for linking plants or samples to associated data. Radiofrequency identification microchips working at low or ultra high frequency were associated to different items such as organism, matrix or container commonly involved in a plant pathology test. Moreover, the microchips were subjected to various environmental conditions, such as thermal and chemical stress. A collaborative Web 2.0-based workspace was used to support research data management and interaction between users. Our findings demonstrate that the microchips maintained their reliability following environmental treatments, while the selected Web 2.0 collaborative workspace allowed useful data interchange and communications between labs during long-term trials as sanitary selection of grapevine.