Digital Research Data Management (DRDM)

This course provides a deep dive into the lifecycle of digital research data, including planning, collection, storage, documentation, sharing, and long-term preservation. With growing demands for data transparency, FAIR principles, and open access, the course enables participants to align their research practices with funder, institutional, and ethical requirements. Practical sessions explore metadata standards, data repositories, anonymization, and collaborative data platforms.

Who Should Attend

Academic and applied researchers (STEM, social sciences, humanities)

Data stewards and institutional repository managers

Research administrators and grant officers

IT and library professionals supporting research data infrastructure

PhD students, postdocs, and lab/project coordinators

Objectives

Understand the full lifecycle of digital research data and its management

Develop and implement data management plans (DMPs)

Apply FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles

Use institutional and public repositories for archiving and sharing

Ensure ethical, secure, and compliant handling of sensitive data

Utilize metadata, version control, and documentation standards

Course Outline

Introduction to Digital Research Data Management

Definitions and scope of DRDM
Why data management matters in modern research
Overview of research data lifecycle stages
Institutional, legal, and funding mandates for data management
The role of data stewards and researchers in DRDM

Data Management Planning and Policies

Elements of a strong data management plan (DMP)
Tools for creating and reviewing DMPs (e.g., DMPTool, Argos)
Aligning with funder requirements (Horizon Europe, NIH, etc.)
Institutional data policies and documentation workflows
Embedding DMPs into project proposals and protocols

Metadata, Standards, and File Documentation

Metadata schemas and standards (e.g., Dublin Core, DataCite, ISO 19115)
File naming conventions and directory structures
Version control for collaborative research
Data dictionaries and README files
Machine-readable vs human-readable metadata

Data Sharing, Preservation, and FAIR Principles

Understanding FAIR data principles and implementation
Choosing repositories (Zenodo, Dryad, institutional repositories)
Assigning persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI, ORCID)
Licensing research data for reuse (e.g., CC BY, CC0)
Long-term archiving and sustainability planning

Ethics, Security, and Sensitive Data Handling

Data anonymization and de-identification techniques
Consent and data ownership in human subjects research
Managing restricted or sensitive datasets
Cybersecurity practices in research settings
Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and institutional ethics boards

Competencies

Data lifecycle planning and compliance

DMP writing and institutional policy alignment

Metadata curation and digital preservation

Secure and ethical data sharing

Use of tools for versioning, repository deposit, and documentation

Live Online

Access Elite Academy’s complete training portfolio live online. Organizations, distributed teams and professionals can join scheduled interactive sessions or request any program to be delivered online, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. Elite Academy’s Live Online Training provides access to our complete portfolio of professional programs without linking availability to a physical destination. Organizations, multi-location teams and individual professionals can join scheduled instructor-led sessions or request any program from the Elite Academy portfolio for live online delivery, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. The format preserves real-time interaction, expert guidance and practical learning while removing the need to travel. Browse the current Live Online schedule below or request your preferred program and dates.