Macquarie University’s Path to Excellence in Research Data Management
Mahdieh Dashtbani Moghari1, Piyachat Ratana1, Laura Hurley 1 1Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia
Abstract
Introduction
Data governance is critical for research institutes to manage and safeguard data assets, ensuring data privacy, protection, transparency, retention, sharing, and meeting legislative expectations and funders’ requirements. Macquarie University launched its research data management (RDM) framework in late 2021, comprising three key components: 1) official policy, procedure and guideline documents; 2) infrastructure; and 3) support, advice and training.
Discussion
The RDM policy establishes roles, responsibilities, and guidelines for managing research data, considering data sensitivity level to ensure appropriate data handling, storage and sharing. The RDM framework led to the development of RDM Online module and Data Management Plan (DMP) tool, promoting awareness, risk mitigation, and adherence to FAIR and CARE data principles. To support the framework, a new RDM team was established, providing guidance on data management best practices throughout the research life cycle, delivering training, tools, resources, contributing to policy and guidelines development, conducting risk assessment for various research platforms, and ensuring compliance with legal and ethical requirements.
Conclusion
Macquarie’s RDM framework ensures effective data management, secure data practices, and long-term integrity and accessibility of research data. Although significant progress has been made in transforming the university’s data management culture, we recognize that it is an ongoing process. Through collaboration with IT, Research Ethics and Integrity, Graduate Research Academy, and Library, we are committed to providing optimal support for researchers. By fostering a culture that emphasizes proper data management and handling, we aim to shape the next generation of research and cultivate a lasting impact on data practices.
Biography
Mahdieh Dashtbani Moghari (ORCID: 0000-0001-9722-6433) is the manager of the research data management (RDM) team at Macquarie University. She joined the RDM team in February 2023, bringing with her over nine years of industry and academic experience in data-driven research, data analysis, and management. With a PhD in Biomedical Engineering specialising in computational neuroimaging from the University of Sydney, Mahdieh’s expertise lies in various areas, including data-driven research, the integration and manipulation of big data, data management, analysis, modelling, and visualization, artificial intelligence (AI), and statistics.
Piyachat Ratana (ORCID: 0000-0002-1853-2860) is a Research Data Steward at Macquarie University who join Research Data Management (RDM) team in October 2022. She has a PhD in Soil, Water and Environmental Science from University of Arizona with ten years of experience as an environmental researcher and over eight years in eResearch and academic libraries as a data librarian and research data officer. Her expertise includes research data management, good practices and planning, FAIR research outputs, data publishing, research data repository, and digital archive and preservation.
Laura L. Hurley (ORCID: 0000-0003-1688-6662) is a research data steward who joined the Research Data Management (RDM) team in late 2021 and is primarily responsible for reviewing Human Ethics DMPs and data management statements in Human Research Ethics Applications and advising the high risk HREC committees. She has a PhD in avian reproduction from Macquarie University, with 23 years of experience working, studying, and teaching across multiple higher degree institutions in US and Australia in both animal and human research. Her RDM expertise includes research data management, good practices and planning, and compliance with Ethics policy and legislation.