Research data repositories
Research data repositories provide the best option for storing and publishing research data in the long term.
Overview
Research data repositories provide the best option for storing and publishing research data in the long term.
Specific repositories may be recommended by funders or publishers, while some funders operate data centres for the research they fund.
Most repositories have embargo arrangements to control data access if required, with similar arrangements for access to sensitive data. A searchable directory of research data repositories can be found at re3Data.
Researchers are strongly encouraged to deposit their data in the University of Sheffield repository ORDA, or in a subject-specific repository or data centre. Staff should register details of their data in ORDA even if the data are stored or published elsewhere
Find help to choose a repository in the sections below and in the Digital Curation Centre guide on where to keep research data.
Choosing a repository
ORDA is a good option for most University of Sheffield anonymised research data, unless there is a subject-specific repository or data centre commonly used in your field. The table below provides guidance for choosing a suitable repository for your data.
| Repository | Data supported | Examples | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software |
Software under development (eg software tools, libraries, scripts, packages, interactive notebooks). It is good software engineering practice to use a version controlled repository for development. Software releases (eg code associated with a specific publication or data set) should also be placed on a platform that supports long term storage, eg ORDA. |
Collaborative tools to facilitate good practice and sustainability. These do not guarantee long term storage or define metadata. |
|
| Subject-specific | Highly specialised; specific technical requirements. |
GenBank (Gene data) UK Data Archive (ESRC-funded) Environmental Data Service (NERC) Archaeology Data Service |
Located with similar material; specialist metadata. |
| Specialising in sensitive data | Particularly suitable for sensitive data. | Specialised access control. | |
| ORDA | Most research data; analysed data; supplementary material; visualisations. | ORDA | Connects data with institution, project and authors; opportunity to expand upon raw data. |
Funder recommendations
While most funders require data to be preserved in an established data repository, some give specific
recommendations:
- AHRC (ADS for archaeology)
- BBSRC (Various discipline-specific repositories)
- ESRC (UK Data Service)
- MRC (UK Data Service)
- NERC (NERC-funded data centres)
Publisher recommendations
Some publishers offer guidance to authors on data sharing, with some suggesting specific repositories:
-
Scientific Data (Nature Research)
DOI allocation
The University Library has a contract with the DataCite consortium, through the British Library, to enable us to allocate DOIs.
If you are building or running a data archive (within a department or institute, for example) and would like to add a DOI-allocating capability to your system, contact us at rdm@sheffield.ac.uk.
For any further information, contact rdm@sheffield.ac.uk.