Getting Started with RDM
What is Research Data Management
Research Data Management (RDM) refers to the systematic planning, organization, storage, and documentation of research data throughout the entire research lifecycle—from data collection to long-term archiving.
RDM ensures that research data are findable, reusable by others, high-quality, ethically handled, and secure.
It supports compliance with legal and funding requirements, enhances collaboration, and lays the foundation for transparent and reproducible science.
Why Research Data Management matters
Especially in the field of medicine, where data can be complex, highly heterogeneous, sensitive, and ethically charged, responsible data handling is critical to the credibility, reproducibility, and impact of scientific work.
Poor research data management can lead to confusion, delays, and even threaten the success of a publication. Without consistent file naming, structured documentation, or clear responsibilities, valuable data may become inaccessible—especially when team members leave. Issues such as incompatible formats, missing metadata, or lost raw data can cause unnecessary stress and consume valuable time.
A well-structured data management plan (DMP) helps avoid these pitfalls. It defines standards for data storage, documentation, naming conventions, and backups from the outset. This ensures transparency, reproducibility, and long-term accessibility of your data—benefiting not only your team but also future collaborators and the wider scientific community. Increasingly, funding agencies expect data to be shared in FAIR-compliant repositories and even allow costs for data preparation and publication to be included in grant proposals.
FAIR data
Findable: Data are assigned a persistent identifier (like a DOI) and described with rich metadata.
Accessible: Data and metadata can be retrieved using standard protocols, even if access is restricted.
Interoperable: Data use standardized formats and vocabularies, making them compatible across systems.
Reusable: Clear licensing and detailed documentation support data reuse in new research.
University of Bonn Research Data Policy
Please take a moment and get yourself acquainted with the Research Data Policy for the University of Bonn . The policy defines a framework for the handling of research data at the university. It thus creates commitment and orientation in order to meet the growing demands on research data management (RDM).
The Research Data Service Center provides also RDM Recommendations for action to meet the requirements of the University of Bonn's Research Data Policy, good scientific practice and FAIR principles.