Office for Research Protections | Research Data Management
As previously announced, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have instituted a new Data Management and Sharing Policy that went into effect on January 25, 2023. In a memorandum to federal departments and agencies, The Office of Science and Technology Policy, “delivered guidance for agencies to update their public access policies as soon as possible to make publications and research funded by taxpayers publicly accessible, without an embargo or cost. All agencies will fully implement updated policies, including ending the optional 12-month embargo, no later than December 31, 2025” (OSTP Press Release). In preparation for new data sharing and management requirements and to promote the responsible reporting of research, Penn State charged a committee to develop a plan for research data, record management, and storage standards for research conducted at the University so that we can ensure research results and data are properly secured, maintained, and accessible as required by Federal agencies. Penn State has a robust research community and research data is an integral part of the research enterprise.
The aim of the Committee is to bring clarity to data management requirements and reflect the current research data landscape through the development of a policy and achievable guidance to support research data management, retention, access, and sharing for research conducted at the University. The policy will be designed to help all research personnel at Penn State to ensure that research results and data are properly secured, maintained, and accessible so that questions of integrity and reproducibility can be addressed. The proposed policy will not specify where researchers will need to store their data, but rather set expectations for data maintenance, retention, access and sharing.
The Research Data Management Committee is also focused on identifying areas of need and guidance to help researchers be compliant with data management and sharing requirements. Given the increasing importance of supporting the research community in establishing and practicing sound data management, Penn State will support the development of resources in this area.
With input from select stakeholders across the University, the Committee has completed the initial draft of the Research Data Management policy. The Committee is now seeking input more broadly through a series of town halls, as well as this feedback form. For more information about the town halls or to access the feedback form, see the Committee’s webpage.
The town halls will take place virtually via this Zoom link on the following dates:
Wednesday, March 1
1:30-3:00pm
Friday, March 3
2:00-3:30pm
Monday, March 13
9:30-11:00am