NSF Data Management Plan (DMP) Guide: Overview

• Overview
• Data Basics
  • Defining Research Data
  • Data Lifecycle
  • Data Characteristics
• NSF Guidelines
  • NSF Data Management Requirement
  • NSF General & Directorate-level Guidelines
• Writing DMPs
  • What to Include in Your DMP
  • Recommended Structure of a DMP
• Using DMPTool and Templates
  • Why We Suggest Using DMPTool
• Example DMPs
  • Sample DMPs from DMPTool
  • Sample DMPs from Other Institutions
• Services and Resources
  • Training & Workshops
  • Consulting Policy

This guide is intended to assist researchers, principal investigators, grant administrators, support staff, and other members of the Virginia Tech community who need to prepare a data management plan in compliance with NSF requirements.

What Is a Data Management Plan?

Data Management Plan (DMP) is a document that specifies your plans for managing your data for a research project. This includes details such as file naming conventions, metadata standards, storage space, security and back-up. In addition, you will understand how you will work with others and share files, and what you will do with the data over the medium or long term. 

Why Is It Important to Properly Manage Your Data?

By managing your data properly you can:

• Meet funder requirements;
• Maintain data integrity by ensuring that research data are accurate, complete, and reliable;
• Save time by preventing duplication of effort and increasing research efficiency;
• Enhance data security and minimize risk of data loss; and,
• Increase your research impact by ensuring that your data will be accessible and usable by others.

Virginia Tech University Libraries also provide additional guidance and resources for data management with a different focus.

• Research Data Management Guide
• NIH Data Management and Sharing Guide