Research Data Management

Funder Requirements

Many funding agencies require formal data management and/or sharing plans as part of their granting process. To get the most up-to-date information, be sure to check your funding agency's website directly. Science.gov provides links to and information on federal public access plans and guidance.

Journal Requirements

Increasingly, journals are adopting the Joint Data Archiving Policy. Before submitting a manuscript to any journal, check their data policy details on how to handle associated data files. FAIRsharing.org is a registry of data preservation, management and sharing policies from international funding agencies, regulators, journals, and other organizations.

Authors will often need to include a "Data Availability Statement" in their article, which details what data are available, where the supporting data can be found, and any applicable access terms.

• How to Write a Data Availability Statement: Resource from F1000Research on writing a clear Data Availability Statement for various data sharing mechanisms.

UC Requirements

The University of California issued a Research Data Policy, effective July 15, 2022, that clarified "the Regents of the University of California owns Research Data generated or collected in the course of University Research, and exercises this responsibility to support research, collaboration, public dissemination of information, and to meet its responsibility under sponsored research awards and other research agreements." Ownership of Research Data by the University of California is a longstanding precept originally articulated in Regulation 4 (Academic Personnel Manual 020).

Policy Highlights

• Defines Research Data as recorded information embodying facts resulting from a scientific inquiry, regardless of the form or media in which they may be recorded. In this policy, Research Data does not include:
  • "Scholarly and Aesthetic Works" defined under the University of California's Copyright Ownership Policy
  • Informal notes, preliminary analyses, drafts of scientific papers, and communications with colleagues that do not include recorded information embodying facts resulting from a scientific inquiry
  • Administrative records incidental to award administration such as financial records, contract and grant records, or records related to institutional reviews and approvals
  • Patient source documents and medical records created in the course of clinical care
• Identifies Principal Investigators as the primary stewards of Research Data. Research Data will be retained by the Principal Investigator of a research project. However, the University may take custody of Research Data under certain circumstances, such as where necessary to perform any investigations associated with allegations of research misconduct, litigation, or to ensure continuity of research.

For more information, visit Frequently Asked Questions about UC's Research Data Policy.