Data Management and Sharing

Sharing your datasets to a public data repository is often a requirement of both funding agencies and with journal submissions. Submitting your data to an appropriate repository has many benefits as well.  Data repositories: 

• preserve your datasets over time
• assign datasets a persistent, unique identifier for you and others to cite
• facilitate the discovery of your datasets

Where to share your data first depends on any grant- and/or journal-specific repository requirements.  The term repository is often used for a digital/online system that has robust backups and storage, and is relatively permanent.

• For grant specific guidance, refer to the U.S. Funder Requirements on this guide
• For journal and publisher requirements, refer to Journal Requirements on this guide.

Generally speaking, as a best practice:

• data should be shared in a repository that is discipline-specific and community-recognized
• if a discipline-specific repository is not available, then data should be shared in a general repository

See discipline-specific repositories and general repositories in the next sections for more guidance

The table below highlights important characteristics (adapted from the NIH list of Desirable Characteristics for All Data Repositories):

1. Publishers have various requirements for when data sets should be submitted.  Some might require a final data set when the article is submitted for review, others might only require a final dataset once the article has passed review and is accepted. Refer to the publisher's policies or instructions for authors webpage for more information.  
2. Grants typically require data to be shared at the conclusion of funding or with any publications resulting from that funding, whichever comes first.  Review your grant materials carefully to comply with all deadlines.