Miss Melissa Joyce1, Dr Erin Graham1
1James Cook University, Australia
Biography:
Melissa is the Research Data Coordinator at James Cook University, supporting HDR candidates and researchers in research data management. With a background spanning the creative arts, science, and university administration, she brings a unique and practical perspective to the challenges of managing research data. Melissa is particularly interested in using automation and simple tools to streamline data management processes, reduce administrative burden, and connect researchers with the support they need. Her work also contributes to enhancing the university’s data culture by making good data practices more accessible and achievable across disciplines.
Abstract:
Research Data Management Plans (RDMPs) are widely adopted across institutions but often receive little follow-up after submission due to the time intensive nature of one-on-one consultations and volume of RDMPs created. At James Cook University, the RADAR (Research Data Audit & Review Automation) project is exploring how simple automation can support more consistent review and engagement with RDMP content. Using structured data exports, RADAR scans RDMPs for key terms that indicate potential support needs.
The project is currently being implemented, with testing underway using data exports from the ReDBox platform and HDR milestone data from JCU’s student systems. Outputs include audit summaries and draft emails that integrate with Outlook, enabling research support teams to respond quickly with minimal overhead.
While still in its early stages, RADAR aims to lay the groundwork for a scalable and sustainable process to prompt timely engagement with researchers, improve data governance, and enhance institutional research data culture. Future phases will explore integration with AI/LLMs to provide context-aware suggestions and more nuanced recommendations.
This presentation will share early outcomes, insights from the rollout, and lessons learned from building practical tools on limited resources.
