Data Management

Overview

At èßäÊÓƵapp, developing a Data Management Plan (DMP) is an essential part of responsible research. Many federal funding agencies, such as the and , require a DMP as part of grant proposals to promote transparency, reproducibility, and public access to data. Beyond compliance, a well-crafted DMP helps researchers work more efficiently by reducing confusion, preventing data loss, and clarifying roles and responsibilities within a project team.

It also facilitates collaboration, supports data reuse, and contributes to the broader academic community by making data more discoverable and useful after a project concludes. Along with the Office of Research and Innovation, and the Office of Information Technology provide expert support to help faculty and students create effective DMPs tailored to their discipline and funding requirements, ensuring that research at èßäÊÓƵapp is not only innovative but sustainable and impactful.

This tool allows you to build and save a data management plan according to the requirements of different sponsors, including DOE, NASA, NIH, NSF, and more.
Need more help?

Need more help?

For help with data management planning, description, storage, and archiving, contact Research Data Management Support  1-2 weeks prior to proposal deadline.

èßäÊÓƵapp Libraries has grants available to purchase data sets for qualifying recipients. Faculty, graduate students, staff, and postdocs are eligible.

èßäÊÓƵapp Resources for Data Management 

Southern Methodist University offers a rich ecosystem of support for researchers through the combined efforts of and the Office of Information Technology’s Research Technology Services (RTS). These units provide complementary expertise to assist faculty, students, and staff at every stage of the research process — from planning and data management to analysis, visualization, and publication.

èßäÊÓƵapp Libraries - Research and Scholarly Initiatives 

 plays a central role in supporting the university’s research community by offering a wide range of services focused on research data management, digital scholarship, and geospatial analysis. Library staff provide expert instruction and consultation on how to properly manage research data throughout its lifecycle — including organization, preservation, sharing, and ethical use. Scholars can receive guidance on developing project plans that align with disciplinary and funding agency standards, while also exploring tools and methods for engaging with geospatial data and spatial analysis.

In addition, the Libraries offer services to help researchers assess and enhance their scholarly impact, whether through citation analysis or strategic dissemination practices. For those working in the digital humanities, the Libraries provide access to digital scholarship tools and workflows that support innovative and interdisciplinary research approaches. Collaborating closely with the Office of Information Technology, library specialists are available to consult on research methods, and digital research platforms to ensure researchers have the support and infrastructure needed to succeed.

èßäÊÓƵapp OIT Research Technology Services (RTS)

The Office of Information Technology’s Research Technology Services (RTS) team offers a robust portfolio of technical support designed to meet the needs of researchers across disciplines. RTS serves as a strategic partner in research projects, helping faculty and students harness advanced computing, data science techniques, and digital tools to drive discovery and innovation. Their team provides one-on-one consultations on selecting appropriate data sources, applying quantitative research methods, conducting in-depth analyses, and creating compelling visualizations to communicate findings effectively.

Beyond technical consulting, RTS offers specialized expertise in machine learning, high-performance computing, data science, and data visualization. They assist researchers in designing experiments, managing complex datasets, and implementing advanced analytical techniques. With strong capabilities in software engineering and system integration, RTS helps bridge the gap between research goals and the technology required to achieve them. Moreover, their team can support faculty with the preparation of grant applications and publications by contributing to the accurate and clear articulation of research methods and computational results. Whether you are developing a new project or refining an ongoing study, RTS stands ready to provide the technological foundation to support high-impact research.

Sponsor-Specific Requirements

Each sponsor has their own unique set of rules and requirements for data management.  Use the links below to learn more.

Data Storage Options

èßäÊÓƵapp Box

Box is a cloud storage solution with full redundancy, macro-level version control, and disaster recovery features. èßäÊÓƵapp Box is accessible only with an èßäÊÓƵapp ID number, email address and password; therefore, it is for the èßäÊÓƵapp community. èßäÊÓƵapp also has an account with OneDrive for the same purpose. Both Box and OneDrive are cloud storage solutions with full redundancy.

GitHub

GitHub is also a cloud storage solution with full redundancy, micro-level version control, and disaster recovery features. GitHub offers both public and private repositories that enable granular user access control. Repositories can have open access, can be set to require verified GitHub accounts, or can be set to only allow specific verified GitHub users to have access.

èßäÊÓƵapp Scholar

is èßäÊÓƵapp's open-access Institutional Repository and uses the hosted bepress Digital Commons software. èßäÊÓƵapp Libraries anticipate the data will be hosted on èßäÊÓƵapp Scholar indefinitely and DOIs will be assigned to ensure a persistent identifier is available for each item.

Additionally, èßäÊÓƵapp Libraries has developed a workflow to ingest metadata and files from èßäÊÓƵapp Scholar into èßäÊÓƵapp Libraries’ Rosetta software platform for digital preservation, providing additional backup and assurance that the files and metadata will be preserved and accessible over time, following best practices. The PI may request that their files be ingested into Rosetta.

Texas Data Repository (TDS)

èßäÊÓƵapp contributes to the , a part of the Texas Digital Libraries, so any data associated with a publication that does not have a field specific data repository will be placed in TDR.

The Texas Data Repository provides basic, bit-level preservation and ensures ongoing access to research data, including associated metadata and documentation for five to ten years after the data is deposited, based on the TDR’s data retention policy.

All digital content is copied nightly with versioning and kept for one year (individual files); content from the entire service is copied nightly as a snapshot and kept for one month.

Data Management Tips

Plan for the collection, processing, analysis, long term storage, and sharing of your data. Think through the specifics of the types of data and the formats of that data. èßäÊÓƵapp libraries has  that can assist you in thinking through the data lifecycle.

If your funder has specific requirements, those need to be addressed in your plan. If you aren’t sure how to interpret the requirements, reach out to ORI for help.

If you are using protected data (e.g. HIPAA, FERPA) or export-controlled data, these can limit your options for data storage and where you can perform your analysis. If you are doing Human Subjects Research, èßäÊÓƵapp’s IRB may require a review of your data management plan. Contact our Research Integrity & Compliance team.

Have a plan for sharing your data after the grant period ends. èßäÊÓƵapp is a member of the for long term preservation but your field might have specific repositories better suited for your research. Evaluate what really needs to be stored long term and budget for it. This is especially important for large computational data sets that could be regenerated in the future if necessary.

Plan in your budget for data storage costs as well as time and expertise from the project team. Assign specific data related roles on your project team.