4.1 Public access repositories, archives and databases
Ideally, you should use a public-access repository, archive, data center, or database to share and preserve data. If possible, identify a potential repository and review its submission requirements before you start drafting a plan. The submission requirements will shape your data management strategy and provide material for your plan. In some cases, you may have to use different repositories for different types of data. We can help you locate a repository.
If you cannot find an appropriate data repository or archive, contact the program officer or editor for direction.
- Your funding agency, funding organization, or journal may operate or sponsor a data repository. Contact the program officer or editor for recommendations.
- Peers in your field may maintain a repository. Inquire on any mailing lists or forums. We can do some research for you, too.
If there is no central repository for your field, here are some general purpose repositories:
- You may be able to deposit data and other research products in the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM). DRUM is managed and maintained by the University Libraries. Please contact us if you're interested in this option.
- Zenodo is maintained by CERN.
- Dataverse is maintained by IQSS at Harvard.
- Dryad is maintained by UNC-NESCent-NCSU.
- Open Science Framework is maintained by the Center for Open Science.
For software code, we recommend:
- GitHub (for use with Git version control)
- BitBucket (for use with Git or Mercurial version control)
- Any of the data repositories listed above will accept software code
4.2 Useful resources at UMD
Data sharing and preservation
Data storage and backup
Grant proposals
Copyright and intellectual property
Commercialization and patent applications
