Research Data

Completing the Maestro Research Data Management Project Deliverable

This resource is intended to help Principal Investigators complete the Maestro Research Data Management Project Deliverable by clarifying what information is needed and how to document where final research data will be stored long-term.

Why does this matter?
The location and the primary steward of research data in support of sponsored research activities are required to be referenced in the university’s electronic research administration system. This ensures that the location of TAMU research data is known to the University so it can meet its obligations for retention, data accessibility, and sharing.

How do I complete the deliverable?
For each entry in the Data Storage Location table, provide at least the required fields:

• Location (required): Where final research data will be stored long-term.
  Examples: Texas Data Repository, secure lab or departmental server, or an external repository (name the repository).
• Data Sensitivity & Compliance (required): Indicate whether data are:
  • Open Access – publicly available, no restrictions
  • Restricted – limited access due to privacy, confidentiality, or other compliance requirements

Optional additional information
You may also include:

• Data group or project name
• A brief description of the data
• Access and sharing details (for example, who can access the data and under what conditions)
• A persistent identifier (PID) for the final dataset, when available (for example, DOI, ARK, or Handle)

Reminders

• “Final research data” refers to the data necessary to validate and replicate research findings.
• Federally sponsored research data must generally be retained for at least 7 years, or longer if required by the sponsor or applicable policy.
• If the responsible research data steward or the storage location changes, please notify the Director of Research Data so institutional records can be updated.
• If a Principal Investigator leaves Texas A&M and wishes to transfer original research data to another institution, the transfer must go through the appropriate TAMU approval and agreement process before data and responsibilities move to the new institution.

Questions – Contact Leslie Krueger, Director of Research Data, at lkrueger@tamu.edu.

DMPTool: Templates for data management plans are based on the specific requirements listed in funder policy documents.  It provides step-by-step guidance for creating your own DMP, including templates and sample plans to help you address requirements specific to your institution and funding sources. https://dmptool.org/

SPARC: Browse article and data sharing requirements by federal agency, https://datasharing.sparcopen.org/, and the SPARC Digest of Federal Article Data Sharing Requirement spreadsheet.

Texas A&M University Libraries’ research librarians provide comprehensive support for researchers managing research data. They assist with creating Data Management Plans (DMPs) using the DMPTool, tailored to meet specific funder requirements. Librarians offer guidance on organizing, documenting, storing, and sharing data throughout the research lifecycle, ensuring compliance with funder and publisher mandates. Through consultations, they share best practices for setting up accounts and utilizing the Texas Data Repository (TDR) for publishing and archiving data, enhancing discoverability and citability, and can share information about other repositories as well. Workshops are also available to equip researchers with tools and strategies for effective data management, promoting long-term usability and research impact.

Overview – Research Data Management – Research Guides at Texas A&M University

University SAP 15.99.03.M1.03, The Responsible Stewardship of Research Data: This SAP outlines the assignment of responsibilities, procedures and processes that will assure that research data is properly recorded, retained for the required period of time and made available for review as obligated.

University SAP 29.01.03.M0.01, Security of Electronic Information Resources: The purpose of this Standard Administrative Procedure (SAP) is to establish the responsibilities and information security controls necessary to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of those information resources.

Federal Regulatory IT Compliance: Defining rules and guidelines for information technology use across the Texas A&M campus (e.g. CUI, HPPA, FERPA).

University Research Data Privacy: Guidance on understanding the nature of the data being used in research including data classified as critical or confidential.

Data Use/Transfer Agreements: Understanding Data Use/Transfer Agreements responsibilities and requirements.

The Texas A&M University Technology Services portal empowers researchers with cutting-edge computing infrastructure, security and compliance guidance, device standards, and data handling protocols—helping ensure data integrity and support throughout the research lifecycle.

Research: Compute and networking services for researchers—HPC, file sharing, Science DMZ, enterprise compute platform.

Data Classification: A framework for determining sensitivity levels of data and governing appropriate handling and protection.

Research Security & Compliance: Training, tools, and policy guidance to help conduct research securely and in adherence to standards.

End-User Device Guide: Best practices for securing both university-owned and personal devices, including compliance requirements.

Enterprise Compute Environment (ECE): Texas A&M University’s Technology Services supports researchers through its Enterprise Compute Environment, delivering advanced computational resources tailored to research needs. IT specialists assist with designing and deploying custom solutions using platforms like AggieCloud, AWS, Azure, and GCP. They provide guidance on setting up virtual machines, managing cloud access, and optimizing computational workflows for diverse research projects. Through consultations, evaluations, and implementation support, the team ensures researchers have the infrastructure needed to accelerate scientific discoveries and drive innovation.

Click here to find the resources referenced below and much more…

• Cloud: Explore cloud service providers, offering secure and powerful tools for research, collaboration, and data management.

• Storage: Discover comprehensive storage solutions designed to meet the diverse data management needs of research and academic communities. Storage platforms provide secure, scalable, and accessible options to support institutional data requirements.

• Backups: Enterprise Backups deliver comprehensive data protection and recovery solutions to keep the university running smoothly. Robust systems ensure critical data is securely preserved, rapidly recoverable, and compliant with university standards to prevent disruptions to research and workflows.

• Specialized Research & Management Tools: Complement your core infrastructure with these specialized research and management tools such as RedCap, Globus, TAMU AI services, etc.
• Schedule a Consultation: Connect with the ECE Team and develop custom solutions to deploy advanced computational resources.