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Research Data Management Policy
University Policy RP15: Research Data Management provides guiding principles and best practices for research data and records management across the University. This policy applies to both funded and unfunded research. See the June 2025 announcement.
Policy Benefits
By clearly stating the University’s ownership of data in a policy, the University is better positioned to protect and assist with data issues. This policy clarifies the rights and responsibilities of data ownership. The policy establishes the University’s responsibility in fulfilling legal obligations to federal and other sponsors. Importantly, this policy protects the autonomy of the researcher.
Key Resources
The Committee also intends to identify a need for and make recommendations on necessary resources to help the University community successfully adopt the practices outlined in the Research Data Management Policy. Below are some existing resources related to research data management:
- Libraries Research Data Service
- Data Management Plan Tutorial
- Data Management and Human Subjects Research
- SPARC Database of Publication & Data Sharing Policies by Agency
- NSF Data Management Plan Info
- NIH Data Sharing Policy
- Penn State’s New NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing webpage
- Checklist for Departing Researchers
- Data Storage Finder
- Permitted Research Data Storage
Policy Background
The Research Data Management Policy Committee was charged in May 2022 to define research data and record management, as well as storage standards for research conducted at the University. This Committee was established in response to the need for institutional policy that reflects federal and other sponsor requirements, including, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as to emphasize scientific best practices across the University research community. The committee held town halls and focus groups; the policy was reviewed by Faculty Senate and other University leaders.
Penn State joins its peers in the establishment of this policy. Other institutions with similar policies include University of California, Stanford, Columbia, Yale, and multiple Big 10 counterparts.
Questions
Please direct any questions to Courtney Karmelita (cec5032@psu.edu).
Office for Research Protections
Address
200 Innovation Blvd.
Suite 110
University Park, PA 16802
The Office for Research Protections (ORP) ensures that research at the University is conducted in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines that protect human participants, animals, students, and personnel involved with research.