FAQs
- General
- RDMC Services
- Data Management and Sharing
- DMSP Review
- UNC Dataverse
- Is UNC Dataverse a suitable repository for my project?
- What types of data does UNC Dataverse accept?
- Can UNC Dataverse house sensitive data?
- Does UNC Dataverse have a data file size limit?
- Does UNC Dataverse have the NIH desirable characteristics of a data repository?
- How do I find my project dataverses and datasets in UNC Dataverse?
- How do I share my data within UNC Dataverse?
- My data are being shared in a different repository. How do I catalog my data in UNC Dataverse?
- Where can I learn more about UNC Dataverse for data sharing and discovery?
- Budgeting
General
What is the Research Data Management Core?
The Research Data Management Core (RDMC) provides UNC researchers with the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to manage and share their research data in compliance with funding agency mandates and data management and sharing policies effectively and efficiently.
What is data management?
Data management refers to the activities that support the long-term preservation, access, and use of research data. This includes, but is not limited to, planning for data management, describing, formatting, and storing data, curating, archiving, and sharing data. The goal of data management is to make your data discoverable, interpretable, and re-usable by future researchers. Incorporating data management into your research practice helps sustain the value of your data and allows others to verify and build upon your published results.
Where can I find more information about federal funding agency data sharing policies?
Science.gov provides an updated list of public access plans and guidance from federal funding agencies on data management and sharing requirements.
RDMC Services
What is the Basic Data Management Service?
The RDMC Basic Data Management Service includes creation of your project dataverse and record in UNC Dataverse data repository, which provides long-term preservation of and access to data and associated research materials, along with searchable indexing and description of data products located in other repositories specified in the DMSP. To further support successful implementation of the DMSP, services also include at-award general guidance and consultation on data management and sharing standards and best practices that are specific to the project data types, and ongoing review, monitoring, and support of data management and sharing activities throughout the project period to confirm that project data are shared as required and uphold FAIR principles for findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable data.
Can I request the Basic Data Management Service for my unfunded research project?
Yes. Unfunded research projects or projects exempt from the Basic Data Management Service fee may request a quote for this service. Please see https://researchdata.unc.edu/rdmc-basic-services/ to request a consultation for your project. Basic Data Management Service is available pending availability of staff and resources.
Does RDMC offer other services?
Yes. Add-on services are available by request pending availability of staff and resources. Please see https://researchdata.unc.edu/add-on-services/ for a list of available services and to request a quote for your project.
Data Management and Sharing
Where can I learn more about data management and sharing?
There are many resources available to learn about research data management best practices and standards. Here are a few recommended starting points:
| DataONE Data Management Modules | The Data Observation Network for Earth (DataONE) offers a series of education modules on essential data management topics including data management planning, quality control, metadata, and data protection. |
| Guide to Social Science Data Preparation and Archiving | This guide published by the Inter-university Consortium for Social and Political Research (ICPSR) provides in-depth information on data management tasks required for eventual data archiving and sharing. |
| MANTRA Research Data Management and Training | A self-paced online course for students, research faculty, information professionals, and others responsible for managing research data. |
| Project TIER | Project TIER (Teaching Integrity in Empirical Research) offers tools, methods, and instruction on transparent research practices, including the TIER Protocol. The TIER protocol is a framework for documenting and organizing research artifacts to support reproducibility. |
| Research Data Management and Sharing | This 5-week Coursera massive open online course (MOOC) provides an introduction to research data management and sharing concepts and strategies. |
Can I request a consultation on data management?
Yes. RDMC offers consultations on custom data management and sharing strategies tailored to your project needs as an Add-On Service https://researchdata.unc.edu/add-on-services/ pending staff availability and may be requested through [Storefront portal].
Does RDMC offer data management training?
Yes. We are developing a suite of recurring trainings, so please keep an eye out for these events.
We also provide custom, project-specific training as an add-on service. You can request a quote through our [Storefront portal].
What are the FAIR Principles?
FAIR are a set of guiding principles to help researchers make their data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Many funding agencies are emphasizing FAIR in their policies to promote open, reproducible scientific practices. Learn more about the FAIR Principles
How do I select an appropriate, trustworthy data repository?
Learn more about selecting a trustworthy data repository
DMSP Review
Am I required to request a DMSP review before submitting my proposal application?
No. A DMSP review is not required. RDMC highly recommends requesting a review before submitting a proposal to ensure compliance with funding agency requirements and feasibility of your proposed data management and sharing plan based on the needs of your project.
When should I request a DMSP review?
For a full DMSP review, RDMC requires at least three weeks. Requests submitted with less than three weeks will receive an express review. Any DMSP review request submitted fewer than 5 business days before the due date will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis pending staff availability.
How do I request a DMSP review?
You may request a DMSP review through our Help Center. Please complete the form and provide all required materials (draft proposal, links to the funding opportunity and data sharing policy, plus a link to your draft DMSP in DMPTool). We are unable to process requests that are incomplete or missing required documents.
UNC Dataverse
Is UNC Dataverse a suitable repository for my project?
UNC Dataverse is a multi-disciplinary data repository that can accept any data type and file format and supports the long-term preservation, discovery, and access of your data and research materials. However, it is not designed for sensitive data such as personally-identifying and personal health information (PPI/PHI) and proprietary or copyrighted data.
What types of data does UNC Dataverse accept?
UNC Dataverse is a multi-disciplinary data repository that can accept any data type (e.g., numeric, textual, geospatial, imaging) and file format.
Can UNC Dataverse house sensitive data?
No, UNC Dataverse is not designed for sensitive data such as personally-identifying and personal health information (PPI/PHI) and proprietary or copyrighted data. Please see the RDMC Add-on Services for Sensitive Data support https://researchdata.unc.edu/rdmc-basic-services/
Does UNC Dataverse have a data file size limit?
UNC Dataverse does not have a data file size limit. However, datasets over 2TB per project will incur Large-scale Data Archiving Service Fee [Link to Services/Storefront].
Does UNC Dataverse have the NIH desirable characteristics of a data repository?
Yes, UNC Dataverse meets the following criteria:
- Unique Persistent Identifiers
- Long-Term Sustainability
- Metadata
- Curation and Quality Assurance
- Free and Easy Access
- Broad and Measured Reuse
- Clear Use Guidance
- Security and Integrity
- Common Format
- Provenance
- Retention Policy
UNC Dataverse is not designed for sensitive data and does not meet the NIH desirable characteristic of confidentiality mechanisms.
How do I find my project dataverses and datasets in UNC Dataverse?
You will need to log into UNC Dataverse. In the top right corner, click on the your name and select My Data from the drop down menu. You should see a list of all the project dataverses and datasets, including published and unpublished, that belong to your account.
How do I share my data within UNC Dataverse?
Please see the UNC Dataverse User Guide section on Getting Started for details on the steps of creating an account, creating a project dataverse, creating a dataset, and publishing your dataset.
My data are being shared in a different repository. How do I catalog my data in UNC Dataverse?
After you log into UNC Dataverse, you should navigate to the project dataset record and edit the metadata to include the data location. We recommend that you include a persistent identifier and enough information for a future user to find and select the right dataset. Please see the Edit Metadata and following sections of the UNC Dataverse User Guide for more information.
Where can I learn more about UNC Dataverse for data sharing and discovery?
Please see the About UNC Dataverse webpage https://dataverse.unc.edu/ and UNC Dataverse User Guide for more information.
Budgeting
What is the RDMC Basic Data Management Service Fee?
RDMC Basic Data Management Service Fee covers the cost of essential data management support to ensure adherence to the Funder/UNC approved data management and sharing plan (DMSP). All projects that fall under the Organized Research or Clinical Trial categories must include the RDMC Basic Data Management Service Fee in their budgets and budget justifications.
The current fee schedule and what the fee covers can be found on the RDMC Basic Data Management Service page https://researchdata.unc.edu/rdmc-basic-services/
Do you have budget justification boilerplate for the RDMC Basic Service?
Yes. Budget justification language is provided on the RDMC Basic Data Management Service page https://researchdata.unc.edu/rdmc-basic-services/
How much should I budget for data management for my project in addition to the Basic Data Management Services Fee?
Data management costs vary from project to project. We recommend identifying all resources and staffing needs in advance and requesting quotes from services as appropriate. Here are a few tools to help give you a general idea of what costs might look like:
- Association of Research Libraries: Making Research Data Publicly Accessible: Estimates of Institutional and Researcher Expenses (February 2024)
- ICPSR: Budgeting for ICPSR Curation Services in a Grant Application [from I Share NIH Data]
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Forecasting Costs for Preserving, Archiving, and Promoting Access to Biomedical Data study [from the University of Arizona’s NIH DMSP LibGuide]
- National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive: NDA Data Submission Cost Estimation Tool spreadsheet
- Perra, A., & Netscher, S. (2022). Measuring the time spent on data curation. Journal of Documentation, 78(7), 282-304. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-08-2021-0167
- University of Rochester’s Office of the Vice President for Research: Sample Data Calculator spreadsheet [from the Edward G. Miner Library’s “Data Management: DMS Budgeting” LibGuide]
Who do I speak to for questions about my budget?
The UNC Office of Sponsored Programs is available to answer all questions related to finalizing your proposal budget.