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Research data management
Research data management covers the entire research data life cycle – from planning, collection and analysis through to long-term preservation and, where appropriate, publication. Well-designed research data management is not only a cornerstone of good research practice, it is also increasingly being used as a criterion for the award of research funding.
Saarland University offers its researchers a wide range of tools, services and guidance to enable efficient, legally compliant, long-term data management processes. These include the electronic lab notebook eLabFTW, an open-source tool for structured documentation of experiments and the capture of metadata, making it ideal for collaborative and interdisciplinary projects.
The university's Research Data project team can be contacted about issues relating to research data management. They offer information and advice on technical solutions, relevant regulatory frameworks and applicable standards, and on the selection of suitable repositories for long-term data archiving.
The FAIR principles of data management
Research data is as diverse as research itself. It may include numerical measurements, interview transcripts, audio and video recordings, images, scans or software code. Whatever the format, research data should be managed in accordance with the four FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and, wherever possible, made available as open data.
Data management should be planned and designed at the earliest possible stage, ideally when preparing your funding application. The DFG (German Research Foundation) checklist on managing research data provides useful guidance and is reviewed by referees tasked with assessing funding proposals.