Natasha Simons presented three key challenges faced by information professionals in managing research data and providing data services: 1) the need for skills and knowledge in data management as both researchers and information professionals have gaps, 2) roles and responsibilities in research data management are not clearly defined as job descriptions can be vague and overlapping, and 3) support models for research data management are still emerging as responsibilities are shared among librarians, IT professionals, research ethics staff, and research office staff, but no single person can fulfill all needs.

1. Natasha Simons
Challenges faced by iProfessionals in managing
research data and providing data service
Panel Session
iSchools Data Science Winter Institute
Hong Kong
7 December 2017

2. My top three challenges
Photo by Leio McLaren on Unsplash

3. #1 Need for skills/knowledge in data management

8. What did participants think?
Staff are more eager to engage researchers in conversation now.
My confidence to discuss research data management with experts, students
and data librarians has grown - thank you!

9. Deeper learning dive = discipline specific

10. Researcher skills gap is also large
= Opportunity for iProfessionals!

11. #2 Roles and responsibilities not clearly defined

12. Job titles and descriptions
[Data librarian] job descriptions can be vague and at the same
time, overwhelming
Wanted: Data Librarian to provide high level research data
support services across the whole research lifecycle for 800+
researchers in 10+ disciplines across the whole university.
Must be highly motivated and able to work alone with
minimal supervision. Remuneration pretty average.
Temporary contract.

13. “traditional” roles?

14. or data science type roles?

15. No well worn career path
Photo by Dickens Sikazwe on Unsplash

16. #3 RDM support models still emerging

17. What is RDM to you?
Can you help me manage my research data? - Researcher
Photo by Lucas Vasques on Unsplash

18. What is RDM to you?
Librarian/iProfessional = I can help you describe
your data for discovery and reuse. I can also
help you find data.
IT professional = I can help you compute and
store your data
Ethics area professional = I can help you
manage risk and comply with guidelines for
responsible conduct of research
Research office professional = I can help you
with funder compliance and I will manage the
data about your data
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

19. What is RDM to you?
Hey, I think I need I need all of these things - Researcher
Photo by Chris Hayashi on Unsplash

20. RDM is a team sport
Photo by Max Winkler on Unsplash
iProfessionals can help lead the victory!

21. With the exception of third party images or where otherwise indicated, this work is licensed under the Creative
Commons 4.0 International Attribution Licence.
ANDS, Nectar and RDS are supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy Program (NCRIS).
Natasha.simons@ands.org.au
Tw: @n_simons
orcid.org/0000-0003-0635-1998
Natasha Simons