Making a Data-Management Plan (DMP)
A Data Management Plan is an important tool to structure the research data management of your project. Researchers were previously only obligated to check whether their project adhered to ethical guidelines. Nowadays, however, they are required to submit a data management plan (DMP) as well. A DMP will, among other things, ensure that the data remains findable and becomes reusable after concluding the project. A Data Management Plan (DMP) helps you to manage data, meet funder requirements and help others use your research data if shared.
Each SHE Researchers develops and submits a DMP
All SHE researchers are obligated to complete and submit a DMP for their research project/study through the DMP tool available through FHML/MUMC+. This tool can be found here. NB: you first have to create an account on this website using your Maastricht University e-mail address.
The DMP tool provides you a guided, step by step approach to develop your DMP. After registering your project you get are led to menu with several chapters. Each chapter provides you with questions and prompts to answer about your data-management.
Per chapter, several questions need to be addressed and information needs to be provided. The tool provides background information and guidance via a ‘WIKI’ for filling out the DMP, see here. Furthermore, the tools has the option to write comments for your collaborators in case you want to discuss the DMP through the tool.
NB: the website also provides an overview of all the projects for which the DMP is officially registered. These can provide you with suggestions for how to address certain questions if you are uncertain.
Advanced support for creating your DMP – Datahub
In case the research team is unsure how to address more intricate aspects of writing a DMP or requires advice on how to address certain issues regarding Data Management in general, SHE researchers can contact the Datahub Servicedesk through this online form.
SURFdrive
SURFdrive is a personal cloud storage service for Dutch education and research with which you can easily store, synchronise, and share files. You can do this in the safe and reliable SURF communitycloud. For more information, see here.
To use SURFdrive, you need to request an account via the Maastricht University ICTS service desk. Go to www.servicedesk.icts.maastrichtuniversity.nl/tas/public/ssp/ and search for ‘surfdrive’. This will lead you to a service page where you can request an account. NB: you need a UM-Account for this! NAME@maastrichtuniversity.nl + password.
It is safest to get access through your surfdrive via the web-access, which can be approached through www.surfdrive.surf.nl/files/.
Do not use synchronization for data containing personal information, unless the drive to which you synchronize data from Surfdrive is secure. Use the web-interface of Surfdrive for handling data with personal information.