Data Management

Data Management Tools & Services

DMPTool

Step-by-step instructions for creating a ready-to-use data management plan (DMP) that meets the requirements of specific funding agencies [CDL]

DataUp

An open-source tool for managing, describing, and archiving tabular data in Microsoft® Excel [CDL]

EZID

Create persistent identifiers (DOIs and ARKs) for digital content. Berkeley researchers can contact data-consult@lists.berkeley.edu for a free account.

Data Management Guidelines

Data management and sharing

A portal for information on data requirements, management and sharing [Science Libraries @ UC Berkeley]

NSF data management plan requirements

An outline from the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences

Preparing data management plans for NSF grant applications

UC Berkeley-specific tutorials and guidelines for NSF data management plans [Science Libraries @ UC Berkeley]

UC3 Data Management Guidelines

A checklist for creating, organizing, managing, and sharing your data [CDL]

Data Repositories in the Life Sciences

Selected Life Science data repositories by discipline

Integrative Biology & the Environment

Microbiology & Medicine

For additional data repositories, see:

• Open Access Directory of Data Repositories [Simmons University]
• DataBib [Institute of Museum and Library Services]
• Repositories [DataCite]

Data repositories can:

• Allow the preservation, sharing and discovery of data
• Be a central component of data management plans, which are now required by many funding agenices
• Insure that data remain available to other researchers, which is usually a condition of publication in scientific journals

Choosing a data repository:

Choose early: Data repositories often have specific requirements for file formats and documentation that are far easier to conform to from the beginning of a project, rather than waiting until the end.

Questions to consider:

• What are the requirements for file types?
  Many repositories have specific requirements for file types to insure uniformity and stability. It can be much easier to use these file types throughout your research rather than do conversions at the end.

• What kinds of data are accepted?
  Some repositories are very specialized, only accepting genomes, for example, or crystal structures. Others will take any form of data that is within a given field. A focused repository can make it easier for others who share your specific interests to find and use your data.

• Does the repository have a rights statement or policy?
  See the UC3 Data Managment Guidelines on Privacy and Intellectual Property.

• What is the long-term stability of the repository?
  Not all repositories may be able to insure long-term preservation of data. Contact the repository if you have questions about data preservation and stability.